An Ongoing Bread Recall Has Been Upgraded to the Nation’s Highest Risk Level

Sourdough, whole wheat, multigrain… There are seemingly endless options when selecting the perfect bread for a hearty sandwich (perhaps one loaded with seasonal produce) or slice of toast. Though people with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, likely need to eat limited amounts, there are some healthier bread choices you can make, say dietitians.

But before you toss that slice of bread into the toaster, you might want to check the label first—health officials are raising alarms about a major bread recall that could pose serious risks. Previously, we shared details of New Grains Gluten-Free Bakery’s recall of over a dozen breads, bagels, croutons, cookies, and bars due to undeclared food allergens.

On Friday, May 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced to the public that the existing recall is now considered a Class I—the highest risk level. The Class I label is reserved for situations in which there’s “a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

In total, at least 2,900 products are said to be affected, all reportedly distributed in Utah.

The FDA announcement shares that the items were recalled because of a printing issue that did not clearly state the allergens that the products contain, specifically: egg, milk, soy, and pecan. The agency requires that products containing these allergens, which are included in their “Big 9” food allergen list, are “specifically labeled with the name of the allergen source.”

The FDA report suggests that identifying recalled items could be difficult. It states, “Affected products do not have legible lot codes due to the labeling issue.” It continues, “The print quality on the packaging rendered lot and date codes unreadable or missing entirely.”

Per the report, the following products were recalled because the “label does not declare Egg allergen clearly.”

• Artisan Multigrain Bread
• Artisan White Bread
• Artisan Sourdough Bread
• Artisan Cinnamon Raisin Bread
• Blueberry Bagels
• Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
• Plain Bagels
• Multigrain Bagels

The following products’ “label does not declare these allergens clearly: Egg, Milk, Soy”:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Frosted Sugar Cookie
• Coconut Macaroon Cookie
• Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Dye-Free Frosted Sugar Cookie

“Label does not declare these allergens clearly: Egg and Milk” for the following:

• Artisan Seasoned Croutons
• Seasoned Bread Crumbs

And the “label does not declare these allergens clearly: Egg, Milk, Pecan” for:

• Pecan Caramel Bars

The report lists 16 different recalled products in total.

New Grains Gluten-Free Bakery, a business based in Spanish Fork, Utah, apparently first initiated the recall in late April, though it appears two press releases from the company were released in May. However, the FDA didn’t classify the event until last week.

Additional details about the products, including packaging details and ingredients, can be found in the above FDA recall announcement.

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