Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Gaws Deli sub and breakfast bagel sandwiches recall: Undeclared sesame

Recall published 2+ years ago

Undeclared sesame

Gaws Other food products — recalled other food productsGaws Other food products — recalled other food products (photo 2)Gaws Other food products — recalled other food products (photo 3)
3 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Undeclared sesame

The product contains sesame that the packaging never declared. If nobody in your home avoids sesame, there is no health reason to throw it away — though the refund still stands.

What the notice says: People who have an allergy or sensitivity to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Why it matters: The label does not declare sesame, so anyone who reads labels to avoid it has no way of knowing it is in there. For people without that allergy the product is safe to eat.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

An undeclared allergen is a danger only to people allergic or intolerant to that ingredient. For everyone else the food is safe. Reactions range from an itchy mouth, hives, stomach cramps or vomiting through to anaphylaxis — swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, a tight chest, wheezing, a sudden drop in blood pressure or collapse. If anaphylaxis is suspected, use an epinephrine auto-injector straight away and call 911, even if the symptoms seem to settle, because a second wave can follow hours later.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
November 30, 2023
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Gaws
Product type
Other food products
Distribution
Michigan
Reports of harm
There has been no illness reported to date with a connection to this problem.

Products covered by this recall

Deli sub and breakfast bagel sandwiches

What the company announced

Gaws Gourmet Foods of Marysville, MI, is recalling three varieties of 8” deli subs, and two varieties of breakfast bagel sandwiches because they may contain undeclared sesame.

People who have an allergy or sensitivity to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recalled subs and sandwiches were distributed and also sold by retail stores and bars in southeast Michigan.

The products are in a clear plastic wrap and marked with an expiration dates of 11-28 thru 12-15 marked on the back of the packaging.

Gaw’s Deluxe Italian sub 12oz UPC:1725600910, Gaw’s Classic Italian sub 8oz UPC:1725600920, Gaw’s XL Ham & Cheese sub 8oz UPC: 1725600925 Gaw’s Ham & Cheddar Bagel 6oz UPC:1725600500, Gaw’s Salami & Cheese Bagel 6oz UPC:1725600501.

There has been no illness reported to date with a connection to this problem.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the sesame-containing products were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of sesame.

Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a breakdown in the company's labeling process.

Production of the product has been suspended until FDA and the company are certain that the problem has been corrected. Consumers who have purchased these items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Customers with questions may contact the company at [email protected] .

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 5 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 11-28
  • 12-15

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 12 oz
  • 8 oz
  • 6 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Sesame

Gaws — The product contains sesame that the packaging never declared. If nobody in your home avoids sesame, there is no health reason to throw it away — though the refund still stands.

  1. If anyone in your household avoids sesame, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.
  2. Keep the pack if you want a refund, or photograph the label and the lot code and then bin it. If nobody in the house avoids sesame, you may simply eat it — the recall is about disclosure, not spoilage.
  3. Make sure the household epinephrine auto-injector is where it should be and in date, if someone here carries one.
  4. If a reaction has already happened, report it to the FDA through its consumer complaint coordinator so the case is attached to this recall.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased these items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Gaws Gourmet Foods — Consumers: [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Gaws other food products recalled?

Undeclared sesame People who have an allergy or sensitivity to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: best-by date 11-28 or 12-15. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

If anyone in your household avoids sesame, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased these items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Michigan.

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