A mashed potato recall, issued by the FDA on Tuesday, Jan. 7, has affected customers of the supermarket chain in Missouri. The recall was sparked by a missing ingredient on the label. Let’s look at what we know about this recall.
Mashed Potato Recall: Dierbergs Markets Brand Affected
According to the FDA, Dierbergs Markets’ customers in Missouri were not aware that certain 16-ounce packages of “Premium Home-Style Mashed Potatoes” were recalled because they included wheat that was not disclosed on the label.
The impacted items, offered for sale at more than two dozen Dierbergs Markets locations, have the UPC number 231220006538, the label ID number 92, and the “sell by” date set for Jan. 9, 2025. According to the corporation, every recalled item had been removed from store shelves.
“Dierbergs Markets is working closely with the Food & Drug Administration,” the mashed potato recall notice states. “No other Dierbergs Branded products are affected by this recall.”
Customers impacted by the mashed potato recall are advised to return the items to the store where they bought them in order to receive a complete refund. If you have any more questions, you can reach the company Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time at 1-636-532-8884.
The FDA lists nine major food allergens, including wheat. The other eight are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, and soybeans. The undisclosed presence of wheat triggered this mashed potato recall.
Wheat presents a significant health risk for people with celiac disease. This autoimmune disorder causes hypersensitivity to the gluten present in wheat and some other grains, in addition to allergy issues.
The most severe kind of allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, is characterized by swelling of the throat, breathing difficulties, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and unconsciousness. It needs to be treated right away. Abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, hives, and itching are further signs of severe allergic responses.
The Latest Recall
The mashed potato recall is just the latest to affect American consumers. During the Christmas holiday, a pork recall was triggered, affecting over 10,000 pounds of product throughout the United States.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced two separate recalls for cooked and raw pork products sold in four states. The first recall affected customers in Oklahoma who purchased ready-to-eat bologna products under the Ralph’s Circle R brand. The second pork recall affects Old World Italian Sausage retailers and restaurants in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
3,132 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna and pork products from Ralph’s Packing Company have been recalled in Oklahoma because the packaging fails to identify a milk allergy, despite the possibility that the meat contains milk. The FSIS is concerned that the recalled meat — Ralph’s Circle R brand Garlic Bologna and Garlic Bologna with Jalapeños — may still be in some freezers or refrigerators. Since September 2022, the items have been manufactured.
Because they were not inspected by the government, 7,485 pounds of pork products manufactured by Baltimore-based Impero Foods & Meats, Inc. are also impacted by the recall.
The FSIS was notified of a company producing items under a suspended grant of inspection. After the agency investigated the retailer and discovered that the FSIS had not examined Impero Food & Meats Inc.’s Old-World Italian Sausage links and ropes, the recall was initiated.
The USDA advises against consuming “Old World Sausage” bought from a deli counter between Oct. 2, 2024, and Dec. 19, 2024, under an unidentified brand. Instead, consumers ought to throw it out or return it to the retailer for a full refund. This is true even if the items were frozen for later consumption.
