The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a nationwide recall for several Ritz cracker products because of a labeling error that poses a serious risk to individuals with peanut allergies. The recall affects various packages of Ritz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches, including eight-count, 20-count, and 40-count cartons. It also includes the 20-count Ritz Filled Cracker Sandwich Variety Pack.
According to the FDA, some individually wrapped packs inside these cartons were incorrectly labeled as the Cheese variety but may actually contain the Peanut Butter variety. This mislabeling could result in people with peanut allergies unknowingly consuming peanuts, putting them at risk for severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
The affected Ritz Cheese Cracker Sandwich packs can be identified by the UPC code “0 44000 00211 4.” The impacted best-by dates range from “1 NOV 25” through “9 NOV 25” and “2 JAN 26” through “22 JAN 26.” No illnesses have been reported so far, but those with a peanut allergy are urged to use caution. Reactions to peanuts can cause anaphylaxis—a serious medical emergency. Symptoms may include hives, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, throat tightness, or even cardiac arrest. If these symptoms occur, call 911 immediately.
Consumers who purchased these products should not eat them. The FDA advises that affected items should be thrown away or returned to the store for a possible refund. For additional information, customers can reach the company’s consumer hotline at 1-844-366-1171.
For the latest updates on this and other recalls, visit the FDA’s official website to help protect yourself and others from undeclared allergens.
