Undeclared Food Allergen Results in California Company Issuing a Multi-State Product Recall

LA Testing provides food testing services to help companies comply with labeling regulations and to prevent people from accidentally consuming allergens.

In October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted information about a product recall initiated by a company based in Union City, California. The recall was launched after it was discovered that the labels placed on the food products failed to declare the presence of egg, a known food allergen. As a result, the spinach artichoke and parmesan dip containers in question, could contain undeclared egg protein which could put people with certain food allergies at risk.

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) requires that food labels clearly identify the food source names of all ingredients that are, or contain any protein derived from, the eight most common food allergens. These account for 90% of allergic reactions to foods and include eggs, wheat, milk, crustacean shellfish, fish, tree nuts, peanuts and soybeans.

“If people with food allergies inadvertently consume products that contain them, it could result in a life-threatening allergic reaction,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager ay LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “There is no cure for food allergies, and therefore people with the condition have to avoid all foods that contain the allergen they are sensitive to every day of their lives.”

Working to protect people from unwittingly consuming food allergens and helping to prevent costly products recalls for food manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers, are the food testing experts at LA Testing. In addition to food allergen testing, they provide complete labeling services and a wide array of other food-related analytical services.