Costco has officially recalled a popular item from its baked goods counter, citing a possible allergen contamination.
Patrons of various club warehouses across the United States are being warned that they may have picked up a mislabelled sweet treat between 16 and 30 January.
The product that was supposed to be listed under the item number 1181272 was a box of Mini Beignets filled with Caramel.
However, Costco stated that instead of the gooey caramel, chocolate hazelnut was inadvertently used to fill the centre of the newly-released, deep-fried French pastry.
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This mix-up has violated the Food and Drug Administration’s labelling requirements, with ‘hazelnut’ being classed as an undeclared allergen.
“The mislabeled units contain undeclared Tree Nuts (Hazelnut/Filbert),” the company leaders said via a recall notice.
If you are allergic to hazelnuts, there is the chance that you could experience mild symptoms such as itching and oral allergy syndrome (OSA) if you consume it.
Life-threatening anaphylaxis is also possible, so it’s worth checking if your beignets are filled with the correct ingredient.
As a result of the major packaging error, the mislabeled pastries, which were sold across more than 20 states for $9.99, are being recalled.
States impacted by the recollection notice include: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
Despite Costco cancelling the viral bakery delight, there has yet to be any publicly reported injuries connected to the mix-up, as per Delish.
Costco has cautioned that anyone who has a hazelnut or filbert allergy should not consume the product.
It can instead be returned to your local warehouse for a full refund, with or without a receipt.
In a statement, the company added: “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to hazelnuts/filberts run the risk of a severe life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.”
The major recall comes just days after a class action lawsuit was lodged against Costco by two plaintiffs who claimed a Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken was mislabelled.
The meat product is alleged to have been advertised as containing ‘no added preservatives’, but Bianca Johnston of Big Bear and Anastasia Chernov of Escondido said that it contained both sodium phosphate and carrageenan.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the Southern District of California on 22 January alleged that the business had ‘undertaken and engaged in unfair business acts and practices’ and that the plaintiffs had been ‘tricked’ into purchasing the product.
Moreover, it was alleged that Costco violated consumer protection laws in California and Washington, where the company is headquartered, as per the suit.
Attorneys are asking the court to approve a subclass consisting of customers who bought the chicken in California, while the claimants are seeking unspecified monetary damages.
In a statement to FOODbible, a Costco spokesperson: “To maintain consistency among the labelling on our rotisserie chickens and the signs in our warehouses/on-line presentations, we have removed statements concerning preservatives from the signs and on-line presentations.
“We use carrageenan and sodium phosphate to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking. Both ingredients are approved by food safety authorities.”
Ella Scott