Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Wegmans Harissa hummus topped with harissa recall: Undeclared Allergen-Sesame

Recall published 2+ years ago

Undeclared Allergen-Sesame

Wegmans Sauces & dips — recalled sauces & dipsWegmans Sauces & dips — recalled sauces & dips (photo 2)Wegmans Sauces & dips — recalled sauces & dips (photo 3)Wegmans Sauces & dips — recalled sauces & dips (photo 4)
4 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 have allergies 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
February 3, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Wegmans
Product type
Sauces & dips
Distribution
Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington
Sold at
Wegmans
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Products covered by this recall

Harissa hummus topped with harissa

What the company announced

Summer Fresh Salads Inc. of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada is recalling its Wegmans Harissa Hummus Topped With Harissa because they may contain undeclared sesame. People who have allergies to sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recalled Wegmans Harissa Hummus Topped With Harissa was sold in select Wegmans stores in Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia between January 29 and February 2, 2024.

The product comes in a 10.5 ounce (298 g), clear plastic package with top, side and bottom labels marked with lot # 240239 and lot # 240309 with an expiration date of 03/19/2024 and 03/26/2024 stamped on the side label.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recall was initiated when it was determined the sesame-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of sesame. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a labelling error.

Consumers who have purchased 10.5 ounce (298 g) packages of Wegmans Harissa Hummus Topped With Harissa are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-855-934-3663, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM, or Saturday and Sunday, from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

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

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 240239
  • 03/26

Best-by / use-by date

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

  • 03/19/2024

Package size

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

  • 10.5 ounce

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

Wegmans — 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: Consumers who have purchased 10.5 ounce (298 g) packages of Wegmans Harissa Hummus Topped With Harissa are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Summer Fresh Salads Inc. — Consumers: Summer Fresh Salads Inc., 1-855-934-3663 — Media: Joseph Songa, +1 416-458-7784

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 Wegmans sauces & dips recalled?

Undeclared Allergen-Sesame People who have allergies 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: lot code 240239, 03/26; best-by date 03/19/2024. 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 10.5 ounce (298 g) packages of Wegmans Harissa Hummus Topped With Harissa are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington.

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