Kellogg Co. joined competitors on Tuesday in recalling a variety of cookies and brownies because of fears of peanut-residue contamination with no warning on the label.
The company stressed it was a voluntary and precautionary recall for products associated with a flour mill in Georgia.
“While consumers with severe peanut allergies should avoid the recalled products, the FDA has stated that the amount of peanut exposure from the flour is low and not expected to cause adverse health effects in the vast majority of peanut allergic consumers,” said the company, based in Battle Creek, Michigan. “The company has received no reports of related illness to date.”
The company released a list of recalled treats from its Keebler, Famous Amos, Kellogg’s Special K, Mother’s and Murray lines.
The cookies and brownies were associated with flour company Grain Craft, which recalled wheat flour that had the potential to contain peanut residue.
About 2% of adults in the United States and 5% of children suffer from food allergies, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Food allergies result in an estimated 30,000 emergency room visits each year and 150 Americans die from allergic reactions annually.
Related recalls
The recall follows a similar one by Frito-Lay, which last week called back some of its Rold Gold brand pretzels, including Tiny Twists, Thins, Sticks and Honey Wheat Braided.
Frito-Lay’s action came on the heels of a recall by Hostess Brands the week before of 71,000 cases of its snack cakes — including Ding Dongs and Zinger snacks — and doughnuts.
Both companies said their recalls were prompted by a flour recall in April by Grain Craft. The flour company detected peanut residue in some wheat flour that came from a mill in Georgia, a state where peanuts are also grown.
Grain Craft said at the time it didn’t use any peanut products in its plants and the recall showed the problem of “agricultural cross-contact, which is the result of customary methods of growing, harvesting and shipping of wheat and other agricultural products.”
Hostess said at the time it was aware of two allergic reactions resulting from its recalled products. As of last week, Frito-Lay said it was not aware of any adverse reactions related to the recalled products.
In April, CSM Bakery announced a recall of its 8-inch single-layer red velvet cake sold at Safeway stores. It also recalled 12-inch decorated chocolate chip cookies sold at Acme and Jewel stores because of the flour mill.
