Ahead of the popular Fourth of July holiday, government agencies across the United States have recalled a variety of food products for a variety of reasons.
Thursday marks the Fourth of July, or Independence Day, when many Americans take the day off work and school to celebrate the country’s birthday. Many Americans get together to celebrate the holiday with barbecues and parties, where a variety of foods are served, including hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, and ice cream.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued numerous product recalls over the past year for a variety of reasons, and Newsweek has compiled a list of recalls since January for products commonly consumed during the Fourth of July holiday.
salad:
On June 21, the FDA announced a recall of fresh spinach manufactured by Solata Foods LLC of Newburgh, New York. The recall was triggered by “concerns that the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the infirm, elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
According to the recall, the products were sold in local stores across New York.
On May 31, the FDA issued a recall of whole cucumbers manufactured by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. of Delray, Florida. The product was sold in multiple states from May 17 to May 21 and was recalled due to concerns that it may be contaminated with Salmonella.
On May 17, Reser’s Fine Foods announced a recall of Aldi Deli Macaroni Salad, which has a best by date of June 3, 2024.
“The erroneous label does not include the wheat allergy declaration,” the FDA said. “The salad was delivered to ALDI stores in the following states: AL, CT, FL, GA, LA, MA, MS, NC, NH, NY, RI, SC, TN, VA, and VT.”
On April 10, 43 cases of Kowalski’s Simply Side – Jack’s Potato Salad manufactured by HomeStyle Foods, Inc. of Hamtramck, Michigan, were recalled by the FDA “due to mislabeling resulting in undeclared egg allergens.”
The recalled products were sold at 25 stores in Michigan, including 21 Kroger stores.
On February 8, Dole brand and “private label” salad kits were recalled due to concerns that they “may contain Listeria monocytogenes.” The products were on sale in stores in many states throughout the month of February.
ice cream:
The FDA issued a recall on June 21 for multiple ice cream brands manufactured by Totally Cool Inc. of Owings Mills, Md. The recall was issued over concerns that the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. “The products were distributed nationally and were available in retail stores and via direct delivery,” the FDA said.
On April 9, “4-ounce ice cream sandwiches, 5-liter containers, and 4.75-liter gelato pans” manufactured by Belgian Yummies, Inc. of Fort Myers, Florida, were recalled by the FDA over concerns that they may contain “undeclared allergens.”
“Individuals who are allergic to wheat, soy, egg, coconut, or peanut, or who are sensitive to FD&C Yellow No. 5, may be at risk for severe or life-threatening allergic reactions from consuming these products,” the FDA said.
On January 30, Byrne Dairy, Inc. of Syracuse, New York, announced a recall of its Byrne Dairy Mighty Fine Chocolate Ice Cream (half gallon box, end of sale date October 4, 2024) due to the possibility of the product containing undeclared peanuts.
The recalled products were sold at various stores in upstate New York, according to the FDA.
Other Products:
On June 3, the FDA announced a recall of ground black pepper manufactured by UBC Food Distributors, Inc. of Dearborn, Michigan. The product was recalled due to concerns that it may be contaminated with Salmonella, a bacteria that “can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, infirm, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.”
“The recalled ‘black pepper’ was sold in retail stores nationwide,” the FDA said.
On February 7, the FDA announced a recall of Simply Fresh LLC’s “Rojo’s Black Bean 6 Layer Dip 2-20oz Club Pack.”
“This voluntary recall was initiated following the recall of Cotija cheese by Rizo Lopez Foods due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes,” the recall announcement said.
Newsweek has contacted the FDA via email for comment.
The American flag flies near the Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on the eve of Independence Day, July 3, 2018. As of July 3, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued multiple food recalls for popular Independence Day barbecue items, including salads and ice cream. Details MANDEL NGAN / AFP/Getty Images
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