Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Ghga Turkey and Havarti Sandwich recall: Undeclared allergen, sesame

Recall published 3+ years ago

Undeclared allergen, sesame

Ghga Meat & poultry — recalled meat & poultryGhga Meat & poultry — recalled meat & poultry (photo 2)Ghga Meat & poultry — recalled meat & poultry (photo 3)
3 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Undeclared sesame

This recall is a labelling failure: sesame is present and the label does not say so. That is harmless to most households and genuinely dangerous to a few.

What the notice says: People who are allergic to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

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
April 27, 2023
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Ghga
Product type
Meat & poultry
Distribution
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
Sold at
Kroger
UPC codes
826766155842
Reports of harm
No reports of illnesses or injury have been received to date.

Products covered by this recall

Turkey and Havarti Sandwich

What the company announced

April 26, 2023, Conley, GA – GHGA, LLC. is voluntarily recalling 8.55 oz packages of Turkey and Havarti Sandwiches due to undeclared sesame in bread. People who are allergic to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The recalled product was shipped to Kroger stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina from 01/01/23 to 4/24/23.

The recalled Turkey and Havarti Sandwiches are packaged in 8.55 oz clear plastic clamshells, with UPC 8 2676615584 2, and marked with Sell-by Dates on the front of the packet. All sell-by dates up to and including 4/29/23 are included in this recall. No other products or lots are affected by this recall. Example photos of the recalled product with labels are below.

No reports of illnesses or injury have been received to date.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered by a GHGA, LLC internal review/audit that sesame in the bread was not declared as an allergen. Sesame was always an ingredient and should have been declared as an allergen starting January 1, 2023 as it was added to the list of the major food allergens.

GHGA, LLC. is urging customers with any sesame concerns or allergies to dispose of the recalled products or return to the store of purchase for a full refund. Receipts are not required for the return. GHGA, LLC is standing by to answer customer questions at 888.449.9386 Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PST.

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

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 826766155842

Package size

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

  • 8.55 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

Ghga — This recall is a labelling failure: sesame is present and the label does not say so. That is harmless to most households and genuinely dangerous to a few.

  1. If anyone in your household avoids sesame, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.
  2. Tell anyone else who eats from your kitchen, including childminders, schools and anyone catering an event you contributed to.
  3. 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.
  4. Make sure the household epinephrine auto-injector is where it should be and in date, if someone here carries one.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: GHGA, LLC. is urging customers with any sesame concerns or allergies to dispose of the recalled products or return to the store of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: GHGA, LLC — Consumers: GHGA, LLC, 888-449-9386 — Media: Angie M. Bouzerand, 281-610-1441

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 Ghga meat & poultry recalled?

Undeclared allergen, sesame People who are allergic to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 826766155842. 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: GHGA, LLC. is urging customers with any sesame concerns or allergies to dispose of the recalled products or return to the store of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.

Related recalls