A reminder that if you have any question about a possible allergic reaction, it's wisest to avoid an item even when the ingredients list looks safe.
More Than 210,000 Pounds of Bread Have Been Recalled in 8 States at the Highest Risk Level
Published on Jan. 22, 2025
We all appreciate the restaurant server who knows the menu well, making thoughtful recommendations for dishes you’ll love while helping diet-sensitive patrons steer clear of potential ingredient triggers. But even the server who’s been wisely trained on menu items, or the one who’s willing to ask the cook about that pesky ingredient you have to avoid, can be mistaken from no fault of their own.
That’s because undeclared allergens have represented a growing problem in food safety. More than a decade ago, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reviewed data collected over the previous 10 years, undeclared allergen recalls nearly doubled between 2004 and 2013. In more recent years, food safety recalls have been happening at even higher rates.
The FDA’s flagged several recent recalls on products that were sold into restaurants, like a tangy condiment that goes on some sandwiches. Now, here’s another: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the recall of a noteworthy 210,960 pounds of Baker’s Source Traditional Cornbread Mix Complete, sold in five-pound bags (which appears to have been sold via such distribution companies as Sysco). The product, manufactured by the San Antonio-based C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc., consists of a shelf-stable dry mix that can be combined with water and baked into fresh cornbread.
The affected packages of cornbread mix were designed for foodservice use in restaurants, hotels, cafes, schools, and other commercial settings, and were distributed in eight states: Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Florida, and Virginia. They have a one-year shelf life from their manufacturing dates (MFG), listed below, and bear the following lot numbers:
- MFG: 5/22/2024, Lot Number: PF052224
- MFG: 6/24/2024, Lot Number: PF062424
- MFG: 6/25/2024, Lot Number: PF062524
- MFG: 7/25/2024, Lot Number: PF072524
- MFG: 7/26/2024, Lot Number: PF072624
- MFG: 8/21/2024, Lot Number: PF082124
- MFG: 8/22/2024, Lot Number: PF082224
- MFG: 9/16/2024, Lot Number: PF091626
- MFG: 9/18/2024, Lot Number: PF091824
- MFG: 9/20/2024, Lot Number: PF092024
- MFG: 10/4/2024, Lot Number: PF100424
- MFG: 10/5/2024, Lot Number: PF100524
- MFG: 10/23/2024, Lot Number: PF102324
- MFG: 11/1/2024, Lot Number: PF110124
The recall occurred after the product was found to contain undeclared egg, posing a health hazard to individuals with an allergy or sensitivity to the ingredient. Some other cornbread mixes call for egg to be added ahead of baking.
This month, the FDA has updated this event to categorize it as a Class I recall, designating this as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, roughly 2% of children have an egg allergy, and it is the second most common allergy in children. Older individuals can also have, or even develop, an egg allergy. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, tingling or swelling of the lips, anaphylaxis (choking and respiratory issues), hives, gastrointestinal symptoms, and more. “An egg allergy can be fatal,” Cleveland Clinic experts warn. “If you have severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling in your throat, call 911 (or your local emergency number), or go to the emergency room (ER) immediately,” they advise.
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