logo
Muffin Recall Update as FDA Warns of Potential Metal Parts in Products

Muffin Recall Update as FDA Warns of Potential Metal Parts in Products

Newsweek09-07-2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Wegmans Food Markets voluntarily recalled thousands of its mini muffin products because of the potential presence of metal fragments in select batches.
The recall, which began on June 14 and is ongoing, encompassed multiple varieties of Wegmans-brand Mini Muffins sold in eight states and Washington, D.C. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the recall as a Class II on July 8.
Newsweek emailed a Wegmans spokesperson for comment outside regular working hours.
Stock photo of muffins with chocolate chips.
Stock photo of muffins with chocolate chips.
Getty Images
Why It Matters
Metal contamination, while not as immediately life-threatening as food allergens or pathogens, still poses a significant risk to consumer health. The FDA has warned that "hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury including laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach and intestine as well as damage to the teeth and gums."
Class II recalls are defined by the FDA as "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."
What To Know
The impacted products include blueberry, French toast and chocolate chip mini muffins distributed in plastic clamshell packaging, with a total of more than 25,000 units flagged for potential contamination.
The products were distributed across New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., North Carolina and Delaware.
The specific products recalled and their details include:
Wegmans Mini Muffins Blueberry, 20 oz, UPC 7789053227, Best by 6/20, 8,508 units
Wegmans Mini Muffins French Toast, 22 oz and 13 oz, UPC 7789058612 & 7789052435, Best by 6/22, 8,508 units
Wegmans Mini Muffins Chocolate Chip, 13.5 oz, UPC 7789053223, Best by 6/21, 8,508 units
Each lot is packaged in a clear plastic clamshell, clearly labeled with a Best By date and UPC.
The presence of foreign objects, including metal and plastic fragments, accounted for more than 11.6 percent of all food recalls issued by the FDA and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) between 2020 and 2024, based on data from regulatory compliance company Traceone. During the same period, recalls overall increased by more than 20 percent annually.
A stock image of a Wegmans store in Alexandria, Virginia.
A stock image of a Wegmans store in Alexandria, Virginia.
Wegmans
What People Are Saying
Darin Detwiler, professor of food policy at Northeastern University, previously told Newsweek: "While not as urgent as Class I recalls, Class II recalls should still be heeded, and the products should be returned or disposed of according to the instructions provided."
What Happens Next
Consumers may monitor updates from the FDA's recall portal. The recall will not be closed until the FDA determines corrective actions have addressed safety concerns.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FDA warns this cookware could be leaching lead into your food
FDA warns this cookware could be leaching lead into your food

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

FDA warns this cookware could be leaching lead into your food

Cookware that is likely still on shelves could be leaching lead into your food, the Food and Drug Administration said in an Aug. 13 warning. The FDA became aware of the issue after testing pots made by an Indian manufacturer and finding that they were made with Hindalium/Hindolium or Indalium/Indolium, metal alloys that are made from aluminum, aluminum alloys and brass. These substances are common in some types of imported cookware, said the FDA, but are not used in the U.S. due to their tendency to leach lead into food cooked or stored within. There is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe and some people are at even higher risk of adverse effects, warned the agency, including young children, people of child-bearing age and people who are breastfeeding. Here's what to know. Which cookware is included in the warning? The FDA identified the manufacturer, an Indian aluminum cookware company called Saraswati Strips Pvt. Ltd that sells products under the brand name Tiger White. However, it was unable to contact a distributor to initiate a recall, meaning the impacted products are not being pulled from shelves on a large scale. Impacted products are Kadais/Karahis, or deep pots used for simmering and frying, with brand name Tiger White. The FDA tested two specific items at a Mannan Supermarket in Jamaica, New York, labeled "Pure Aluminium Utensils Tiger White RTM No: 2608606 An ISO 9001:2015 Certified Co. Saraswati Strips Pvt. Ltd. India." However, the FDA warns that these are not the only potentially affected products and more could be added as the investigation continues. What to do if you have an impacted product Consumers should check their homes for any listed products or similar cookware and throw them away. They should not attempt to refurbish or repair the cookware. If you are concerned about possible lead exposure, the FDA advises contacting your health care provider. Retailers and distributors are responsible for ensuring the safety of cookware they sell, said the FDA, meaning those that may have the affected products on the market should use the FDA's lead leach testing protocol for cookware or another testing method. They are also encouraged to consult with the FDA on the updated safety and regulatory status of food-related products. Questions for the FDA related to this topic can be sent to premarkt@ What is the risk of lead exposure? The FDA does not allow the use of lead in products related to food, including components of cookware and other food contact surfaces. Lead is toxic to humans and can be ingested when a product like the cookware leaches it into items it comes into contact with. Even low levels of exposure are linked to serious health issues, including fatigue, headache, stomach pain, vomiting or neurologic changes, according to the FDA. Exposure is especially dangerous to developing fetuses and children, potentially causing learning difficulties, low IQ and behavioral changes. Even when they don't show obvious symptoms, babies and children can be permanently impacted by elevated levels of lead in their blood, especially due to their smaller size and metabolism. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FDA warns about pots that may be leaching lead into food Solve the daily Crossword

What's Really in Your Kids' Furniture? How to Find Safe, Chemical-Free Pieces for Your Home
What's Really in Your Kids' Furniture? How to Find Safe, Chemical-Free Pieces for Your Home

Los Angeles Times

timean hour ago

  • Los Angeles Times

What's Really in Your Kids' Furniture? How to Find Safe, Chemical-Free Pieces for Your Home

LA Times Studios may earn commission from purchases made through our links. Most parents don't plan for their child's first taste of at some point, it happens. A tooth mark on the crib rail, a sticky mouth print on the dresser corner. In that moment, the question isn't just 'will it stain?' but 'is this safe?' As the realities of chemical exposure in kids' rooms come to light, decoding the labels on furniture has become more important. Thanks to mounting research and a new breed of food-safe furniture makers, there's starting to be clarity (and accountability) behind the labels that line showroom floors and pop up in your social feeds. Here's how to cut through the greenwashing, decode certifications, and shop with genuine peace of mind. A recent study put numbers to what every parent fears: more than two dozen phthalates, flame retardants, and other chemicals are hiding in children's bedrooms, not just in old toys but in the beds, nightstands, and even the mattress itself. Under the body heat and weight of a child, chemical emissions spike. Translation: your child's so-called safe space may be a chemical factory, especially if you don't know what's actually in that new furniture purchase. 'This isn't scare-mongering; these are real, measurable exposures, not 'trace' amounts,' says Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer at Naturepedic. 'Most people don't realize just how many harmful chemicals they're bringing into their children's bedrooms when they buy conventional furniture. So many pieces are made with glues, adhesives, and synthetic materials that can off-gas for years. It's a hidden issue in the children's furniture industry that deserves much more attention'. 'Non-toxic' and 'eco-friendly' are unregulated terms, says Schultz. 'When we talk about 'food-safe' furniture, we're really talking about finishes, i.e., the coatings and sealants that come in direct contact with kids' skin and mouths,' Schultz explains. 'If your child were to lick the bed rail or nibble on a dresser corner, there wouldn't be any harmful chemicals to worry about with a food-safe product.' Schultz continues that while 'food-safe' does not have a certification that goes with it in terms of furniture, there is a specific testing protocol. 'Food-safe means the finish meets FDA protocols for food-contact surfaces, just like a dinner plate or a spoon would,' Schultz says. 'It's an extra level of reassurance for parents who want to know that what's on the furniture is as safe as what goes in their child's mouth.' Certified food-safe finishes are tasteless, odor-free, and meet or exceed the same requirements as FDA-approved dinnerware. The best examples: solid, responsibly sourced wood, water-based coatings, and adhesives so clean you could, well, lick them. That cute nightstand or bookshelf in your child's room may have more in common with a chemistry set than we'd like to think. Phthalates, used to soften plastics, are known to disrupt hormones and have been well-documented by the CDC for their effects on children's health. Formaldehyde, found in adhesives and engineered woods, is classified as a carcinogen by the EPA and remains a mainstay in the construction of mass-market furniture. Flame retardants, often hailed as lifesaving, have instead been repeatedly linked by NIH studies to developmental and neurological problems. Then there are organic compounds. That 'factory-fresh' smell clinging to new dressers or cribs is more than a novelty. According to the EPA, it's the scent of chemicals evaporating into your child's space. Great. And when furniture warms up, gets heavy use, or starts to wear, the rate of chemical off-gassing gets worse. As Schultz explains, 'Kids are uniquely vulnerable: they breathe faster, their bodies are still developing, and let's be honest, if it's within reach, it's probably going in their mouths.' In a world of splashy marketing, what separates a truly safe product from empty promises? Certifications are where the details matter. If a brand can't offer them, keep shopping. Schultz points to transparency and independent testing as the only meaningful standards. 'If the language feels too broad, it's worth questioning. Also, be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. Solid hardwood furniture with real safety testing costs more to make than mass-produced particleboard with synthetic finishes.' Look for specifics: GREENGUARD® Gold certification means products are tested for hundreds of VOCs. FSC® labels guarantee responsibly sourced wood. MADE SAFE® screens for thousands of potential toxins. Some manufacturers, like Naturepedic, go further by batch testing for lead, phthalates, formaldehyde, and heavy metals. FDA food-contact compliance should never be assumed. Ask directly whether finishes meet the relevant standards. Any reluctance from a manufacturer to disclose these details is your cue to move on. 'Transparency and third-party testing are key,' Schultz insists. A safe product will come with receipts. Look for clear documentation on what's in the finishes and adhesives, and insist on solid wood over ambiguous 'wood products.' If you see claims like 'eco' or 'non-toxic' but can't find third-party verification, consider it a warning sign. 'Proprietary blend' ingredients? Vague descriptions? Walk away. Price is another indicator. Genuinely food-safe, well-crafted furniture rarely comes at a bargain-basement rate. Brands like Max & Lily are upfront about using GREENGUARD® Gold finishes on their solid pine pieces. And the new wave of heirloom-quality makers (Oeuf, Milton & Goose, and Piccalio) are direct about their use of natural, food-grade materials. Bigger names like Avocado are now featuring GREENGUARD® Gold collections too. The research is catching up: indoor air quality, chemical exposure, and children's health are all inextricably linked. U.S. regulations are beginning to reflect this, albeit slowly, as attention to issues like PFAS and formaldehyde grows. Schultz puts it plainly: 'Over the past decade, parents have become a lot more informed about indoor air quality and everyday exposures. We've seen this with organic food, non-toxic cleaning products, even mattresses. Now that same awareness is shifting to what kids are breathing in and touching day after day in their bedrooms.' Don't get distracted by cute hardware or a clever product name. Before you buy, ask for real answers: Will food-safe become the rule, not the exception? Schultz thinks so. 'Not just as a premium feature but as the baseline standard for kids' furniture. We're at this intersection of wellness and home design where people are rethinking what they bring into their homes, realizing it matters just as much as the food on their plates or the air they breathe.' Style doesn't have to come at the expense of safety anymore. The real measure of quality isn't a trend or a label, but the assurance that what's in your child's room is as safe as it is well made. When a bed rail is finished with food-safe materials, there's nothing left to second-guess.

The FDA is warning you not to use this cookware—it could be poisoning your food with lead
The FDA is warning you not to use this cookware—it could be poisoning your food with lead

Fast Company

time2 hours ago

  • Fast Company

The FDA is warning you not to use this cookware—it could be poisoning your food with lead

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers and retailers not to sell or use certain imported cookware that may leach significant levels of lead. The FDA issued an alert on Wednesday after tests showed some types of imported cookware made from aluminum, brass, and aluminum alloys (known as Hindalium/Hindolium or Indalium/Indolium) leached lead into food when used for cooking, making food unsafe. Here's what to know. Why is this a concern? Lead is toxic to humans and can affect people of any age or health status. Consuming food with elevated lead levels can contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood. Young children, women of child-bearing age, and those who are breastfeeding may be at higher risk for potential adverse events after eating food cooked using these products. There is no safe level of exposure to lead—even low levels can cause serious health problems, particularly in children and fetuses, according to the FDA. Babies and kids are more susceptible to lead toxicity due to their smaller body size, metabolism, and rapid growth. At low levels, children may not have obvious symptoms but can still experience trouble learning, low IQ, and behavior changes. At higher levels of lead exposure, people may experience fatigue, headache, stomach pain, vomiting or neurologic changes. Which cookware is included in the warning? The warning was issued for Indian aluminum cookware company, Saraswati Strips Pvt. Ltd, which sells the cookware under the brand name Tiger White. The FDA noted, however, it was 'could not identify and contact the distributor' to initiate a recall, so the products may still be on retail store shelves. The recalled product is as follows:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store