The FDA announced a recall of hummus sold in East Coast specialty food stores, designating it a ‘class II recall,’ indicating there is a risk of temporary or medically reversible harmful health consequences.
Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection is warning the public that Carrot Top Country Kitchens LLC is pulling five specific varieties of its hummus from store shelves due to an undeclared allergen.
The recall was initiated because the products contain sesame, an ingredient not listed on the label. This poses a significant risk to individuals with a sesame allergy or severe sensitivity, who could experience serious or life-threatening allergic reactions.
The affected flavors include Lemon Garlic, Lime Ginger, White Truffle, Sundried Tomato and Caper and Cherry Pepper Hummus. Each recalled product comes in an 8-ounce plastic container labeled with its flavor.
The hummus was distributed to the Rochambeau Farm Store in Bedford, New York, and was also sold at various farmers’ markets within Connecticut.
A sesame allergy develops when a genetic predisposition meets environmental triggers, crucially influenced by whether sesame is first encountered through the skin, which can sensitize, or the diet, which can protect. At some point in life, the immune system can become sensitized to sesame without a person having a noticeable reaction.
When a person is re-exposed to sesame, the immune system is already on high alert and mounts an aggressive response, producing specific antibodies called IgE that produce inflammatory chemicals called histamines. Symptoms usually begin within minutes to two hours and can affect multiple organ systems
Symptoms can begin as hives, itching, or tingling in the mouth, but it can rapidly progress to severe respiratory distress, a dangerous drop in blood pressure and systemic shock, a dire state known as anaphylaxis.
The sesame in these products was not listed on the label, prompting the recall. For those with a sesame allergy, this hidden ingredient poses a serious risk of severe or life-threatening reactions (stock)
No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported in connection with this labeling error to date.
Consumers who purchased the affected hummus from Carrot Top Kitchens, based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
According to the FDA: ‘Customers who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sesame are vulnerable to serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if affected products are consumed.’
As of 2023, sesame has joined the list of major food allergens, alongside peanuts and milk, that must be clearly listed on US food labels.
Sesame allergy affects nearly 2 million Americans, both children and adults. It is now the ninth major allergen.
The danger of undeclared sesame not only affects those with a known allergy but also a wider population unaware of their allergy.
Released histamine chemicals cause widespread effects within minutes.
The reaction often starts with early warning signs such as intense itching, hives or swelling of the lips and face, nausea or stomach cramps, or a runny nose and sneezing.
This response can snowball into anaphylaxis. The inflammatory chemicals cause blood vessels to dilate and leak, leading to a dangerous drop in blood pressure and fluid buildup in tissues.
At the same time, airways constrict and the throat or tongue may swell, making breathing difficult or impossible.
The affected flavors include Lemon Garlic, Lime Ginger, White Truffle, Sundried Tomato and Caper and Cherry Pepper Hummus. Each recalled product comes in an 8-ounce plastic container labeled with its flavor
The only drug that can reverse the allergic reaction is epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, delivered via an auto-injector such as an EpiPen.
Epinephrine works quickly to constrict blood vessels, improve blood pressure, relax airway muscles and reduce swelling.
An EpiPen is just a stopgap measure, though. Emergency medical care is essential, as symptoms can rebound in what is called a ‘biphasic’ reaction hours later.
Anaphylaxis deaths are relatively rare, with estimates in the US between 100 to 225 deaths annually.
