A controversial ingredient may have ended up in these sweet treats, according to new details released by the FDA.
Depending on where you live, temperatures this past week may have provided that first hint of crisp autumn air. Even if it still feels like summer in your area, it’s never too early to start dreaming of fall flavors in pies, cookies, and more—believe it or not, Thanksgiving is only about 11 weeks away.
Whether you prefer making treats from scratch or stocking up on a local bakery’s goods (we won’t tell!), this is the time of year where apple, pumpkin, or pecan desserts truly steal the spotlight. But for fans of a different yet classic dessert, there’s a new warning involving an additive that’s been in the hot seat lately.
A notice from The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), made publicly available on September 5, warns that Jessie Lord Bakery, LLC, a Torrence, CA-based company, has recalled 136,252 cases of Lemon Meringue Pies and Sugar Free Lemon Meringue Pies. The pies were reportedly sold under the brand names Jessie Lord Bakery, First Street, or H‑E‑B Bakery.
Undeclared dyes were the reason for the recall, the FDA report states. Specifically, the pies were found to contain Yellow #5, also known as tartrazine, with no mention of its presence on the label. The news comes as current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues his push to curb certain food dyes—including Yellow #5—found in grocery products.
You can recognize the affected items using the following information provided by the FDA:
- Lemon Meringue Pie; 8″ round; Net Wt. 27 OZ; Refrigerate after opening; Item Code 31811; UPC: 8 85523 31811 1
- Jessie’s Lemon Meringue Pie Sugar Free; Item Code 30811; UPC: 8 85523 30811 2
- Jessie’s Lemon Meringue Pie; Item Code 08276; UPC: 0 41512 08275 7
- First Street Lemon Meringue Pie; Item Code 84232; UPC: 000 41220 84232 2
- HEB Bakery Lemon Meringue Pie
The agency’s report also included additional lot code information of “24050-25231” and “Best By” date of February 19, 2027.
The pies were distributed “at the retail level” in 14 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. A brief online search indicates Jessie Lord Bakery pies may be sold at chains such as H-E-B, Vons, Safeway, and Ralphs.
On September 4, the FDA has labeled this particular incident “Class II,” indicating the agency views the situation as one that “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” Still, it’s a good idea to sweep your freezer for the affected pies, given their distant date of expiry.
Yellow #5 is one of six synthetic dyes the FDA plans to “eliminate” by the end of 2026 “from the food supply,” according to an April 2025 notice. In one study, Yellow #5 was linked to respiratory symptoms, skin allergies, digestive problems, and heightened behavioral issues in children with ADHD. However, the MD Anderson Cancer Center points out that while food dyes from artificial sources have been linked to certain health concerns, “research is ongoing.”
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