Mondelez Global LLC has announced a nationwide recall of the Original and Mint varieties of its Oreo Fudge Cremes.
The company has issued a recall out of caution for not including milk in the ingredient list, though an allergen advisory statement present on the labels more or less informs consumers about the presence of milk in the product. The countrywide recall also includes products shipped to U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas.
It is noted in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's statement released on Friday, Oct. 28 that the products could cause potentially fatal health issues in patients suffering from severe milk allergies. The recall includes the 11.3-ounce packages of Oreo Fudge Cremes, Original with best by dates of Aug. 19, Aug. 20, Sept. 14, Oct. 13, Oct. 14 and Oct. 17 as well as Oreo Fudge Cremes, Mint with best by dates of Aug. 20, Aug. 21, Sept. 14, Sept. 15, Sept. 16, Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.
Customers that bought the products with the above dates are asked to discard them and they can also contact the company for any clarification at 1-855-535-594, open 24 hours a day. The company's consumer specialists are also available from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
"To date, one report of an allergic reaction has been received related to the above-listed 'Best When Used By' dates. This recall is a result of analysis conducted by the FDA related to this product," reads the FDA's statement.
Milk allergy is mostly seen in infants and children as young as 3 years old. The symptoms of milk allergy range from hives, vomiting, stomach upset and bloody stools for the mild symptoms to severe life-threatening anaphylaxis that could cause breathing difficulty and potentially fatal shock.
According to food allergy research organization FARE, about 2.5 percent of children younger than 3 years old in the United States are allergic to milk. Children usually develop milk allergy during the first year of their life and often recover as they grow. Milk allergy is developed when there are high levels of cow's milk antibodies in a person's blood, which can be detected easily through blood tests.
However, milk allergy should not be confused with lactose intolerance. Milk allergy is caused by the overreaction of the immune system toward milk while lactose intolerance is caused by the absence of the enzyme lactase in body, which processes milk and dairy products. While lactose intolerance causes discomforts like nausea, bloating, cramps and diarrhea, it is not as life-threatening as milk allergy.
Photo: Mike Mozart | Flickr
