The Campbell Soup Company has voluntarily recalled more than 4,000 pounds of chicken soup because of misbranding and undeclared allergens.
Potential Allergen Not Indicated On Label Of Affected Products
The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which announced the recall on April 22, said that the affected products contain a potential allergen that was not declared on the label.
The affected chicken with whole grain pasta soup items have milk, a known allergen, as one of the ingredients.
Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, a federal law that went into effect in 2006, requires food manufacturers to list the top eight allergens on their food products' label using plain English. These potential allergens are milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.
"The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) will improve food labeling information for the millions of consumers who suffer from food allergies. The Act will be especially helpful to children who must learn to recognize the allergens they must avoid," health regulators explained.
Complaints Lead To Discovery Of The Error
The USDA said that the company discovered the error on Thursday, April 20 when its corporate office received a number of complaints from consumers who reported about finding the wrong product when they opened the Campbell's chicken soup products they bought.
Instead of getting the content of the "Campbell's Homestyle Healthy Request Chicken with Whole Grain Pasta" that they bought, consumers found the content of "Campbell's Homestyle Healthy Request Italian-Style Wedding Spinach & Meatballs in Chicken Broth" in the 18.6-ounce cans.
Affected Products
The affected products were produced on Feb. 13, 2017 and have a Best By date of Feb. 13, 2019, which can be seen on the bottom of the can.
"The following products are subject to recall: 18.6-oz. cans of 'Campbell's Homestyle Healthy Request Chicken with Whole Grain Pasta' with Best By date of Feb. 13, 2019 located on the bottom of the cans," the USDA said. "The products subject to recall bear establishment number 'EST. 4R' on the bottom of the cans. These items were shipped to retail locations in Florida."
No confirmed cases of adverse reactions associated with the consumption of the products have been reported, the USDA said. Those who are concerned about illness or injury though are urged to see a health care provider. Consumers who bought the products can also return them to where they bought them or contact the Campbell Soup Company at 866-400-0965.
Dangers Of Mislabeled Food Products
Mislabeled food products can cause serious problems with those who have food allergies. Food safety lawyer Bill Marler related the case of a boy who was given two shots of epinephrine after eating a health bar that was supposed to be milk-free. The boy, who was severely allergic to milk, became nauseous and broke out in hives after consuming the product, whose label did not include milk as an ingredient.
