Soup sold at Whole Foods stores across more than a dozen states has been urgently recalled because it may contain undeclared shrimp.
Massachusetts-based Kettle Cuisine is voluntarily recalling 24oz cups of its Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup because it could contain shrimp not specified on the ingredient label.
The recalled soup cups were distributed to Whole Foods stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Washington DC, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The products were also available online through Whole Foods and Amazon.
Recalled soups were packaged in 24-ounce, clear plastic cups marked with a Lot Code 1762181 and a ‘use by’ date of May 27, 2026, printed on the top rim of the cup.
The UPC 099482502065 is printed on the back label.
No illnesses related to the soup have been reported.
The FDA said the recall was initiated after it was discovered in-store that a single cup of soup contained the incorrect product and had shrimp in it, which can cause deadly reactions in people with a shellfish allergy.
Soup sold at Whole Foods stores has been recalled due to the potential presence of undeclared shrimp (stock image)
No other soups or use-by codes are affected in the recall.
The FDA urged consumers who purchased the soup to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers with questions can contact Whole Foods at 617-409-1100 Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm ET.
The FDA has not given the recall a classification, but it could be deemed Class I, which describes ‘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.’
About 7 to 8 million Americans – roughly two percent of the population – have an allergy to shellfish, which include shrimp as well as crab, lobster, crawfish, oysters, clams, scallops and mussels.
People exposed to an allergen such as shrimp may experience anaphylaxis, an immune system overreaction that causes hives, swelling, wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty swallowing.
A person experiencing an anaphylactic reaction can go into anaphylactic shock when their blood pressure drops dangerously low, leading to vital organs, especially the brain and heart, to become starved of oxygen-rich blood.
Pictured above are the front and back labels of the recalled products
The throat, tongue, and voice box can also swell shut, physically blocking any air from entering the lungs. The muscles around the bronchial tubes in the lungs, which help carry air, constrict, squeezing the airways shut, suffocating the person to death.
An epinephrine auto-injector, known as an EpiPen, is the first-line and most effective treatment to stop the progression of anaphylaxis.
Shellfish allergies are usually lifelong, and about 60 percent of people with a shellfish allergy experience their first reaction as adults, according to Food Allergy Research & Education.
The recall comes after Fly by Jing Creamy Sesame Noodles were pulled from Whole Foods shelves due to the potential presence of undeclared peanuts. It’s unclear if any illnesses resulted from that recall.
