Burger Recall Update as FDA Sets Highest Risk Level

Newsweek

01-05-2025

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.
A recall of seafood burgers has been issued a Class I risk classification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The recall was initiated earlier this month by the Connecticut based company Caraluzzi's Markets due to the undeclared presence of egg, a major food allergen.
Newsweek has contacted Caraluzzi's Markets for comment outside of regular working hours.
Caraluzzi's Markets initiated a voluntary recall of its Italian-style seafood burgers earlier this month due to the undeclared presence of egg.
Caraluzzi's Markets initiated a voluntary recall of its Italian-style seafood burgers earlier this month due to the undeclared presence of egg.
Caraluzzi's Markets
Why It Matters
Eggs are one of the nine major food allergens, as defined in law. The others include milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
Egg allergies are common and in rare cases can lead to anaphylaxis — a severe and potentially fatal reaction. When an allergen is not properly listed on food packaging, it puts unsuspecting consumers at risk.
For those who are sensitive to any of these foods, they can have a reaction within minutes or hours, and symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.
What To Know
Caraluzzi's Markets initiated a recall on April 8 for its eight-ounce Italian Style Seafood Burgers because the packaging did not reveal the presence of egg.
The affected product was distributed and sold between February 18 and April 2, 2025, at Caraluzzi's Markets locations in Bethel, Wilton, Newtown, and Danbury. Connecticut is the only state affected by the recall, according to the FDA report.
The burgers that were part of the recall had an expiration date of January 16, 2026, with the UPC code 0-95864-80008-8.
The FDA issued its Class I classification on April 30, meaning it is a "situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."
The labeling error came to light following a consumer complaint that prompted an internal investigation by Caraluzzi's Markets.
As of April 8, one allergic reaction had been reported. It is not clear if any other allergic reactions have occurred.
The mislabeled burgers have been removed from store shelves, but the recall is ongoing, according to the FDA.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Sebastian Lighvani, the director of New York Allergy & Asthma PLLC, told Newsweek previously: "Every three minutes in the United States, someone ends up in an emergency room because of an allergic reaction after accidental ingestion of food. So even when we try hard, these reactions are happening. And if you look at the incidence of anaphylaxis, it has skyrocketed in the last 5, 10, 20 years. And in the U.S., there's like a 300 to 400 percent increase in the rates of anaphylaxis to foods."
What Happens Next
Customers who purchased the product are urged not to eat it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers with questions about the recall are encouraged to contact Caraluzzi's Markets at 203-748-3547, via email at [e-mail], or in person at any store customer service desk.