The food manufacturer Mondelez Global has significantly expanded a nationwide recall of its popular RITZ Cracker Sandwiches in the United States. This action follows the discovery of a critical packaging error where products containing peanut butter were incorrectly labelled as cheese sandwiches, posing a severe risk to individuals with a peanut allergy.
Details of the Expanded Recall
The initial alert was issued in July after the company identified four cartons of RITZ Cracker Sandwiches that had been incorrectly packaged. The situation has now escalated, with Mondelez adding a further 70 cases to the recall list. The affected product is specifically the RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches 20-pack carton.
While the outer carton is correctly labelled as containing peanut butter, the manufacturer warns that a number of the individually wrapped packages inside may have been mislabelled as cheese. This presents a serious or life-threatening risk to the approximately three million Americans who have a peanut allergy.
Product Information and Consumer Advice
The recalled packages have a UPC code of 44000 07584 2, found under the barcode, and carry sell-by dates of either January 8 or January 15, 2025. They were distributed to retail locations in eight states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
Officials state the recall is being conducted "out of an abundance of caution," and there have been no reports of injuries or adverse events to date. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware of the recall, which is listed on its official website.
Customers with a peanut allergy are strongly advised to avoid these products and to discard any with the identified labelling error. Mondelez stated it ordered the recall after learning the mislabelled products had been inadvertently shipped to stores.
The Seriousness of Peanut Allergies
For those with an allergy, consuming peanuts can trigger a reaction within minutes, though symptoms may take up to two hours to appear. These can include hives, skin redness, itching, tingling around the mouth, and throat tightness.
The most severe reaction is anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition causing breathing difficulties due to airway constriction and swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. According to the US national food allergy death registry, fewer than four people die from peanut allergies in the country each year.
This is not the first recent recall for RITZ products. In February, the brand also recalled sandwiches in Canada due to an undeclared milk allergen, highlighting ongoing challenges in food labelling and supply chain safety.
