Publix Biscotti Recall: The Allergy Risks You Should Know About

When a food recall announcement hits the wire, many consumers quickly pay attention. From the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the various government agencies offer information on both voluntary and involuntary notices that pull products from the shelf and encourage consumers to purge items from their homes. While each organization has its own purview, the goal is to inform consumers of potential undisclosed allergens, foreign objects, and other potentially harmful contaminants in a product.

Under its regulatory oversight, the FDA issues recalls for foods with undeclared allergens. According to FARE, the world's largest private funder of food allergy research, some of the most common food allergens are egg, milk, peanuts, and tree nuts. Although the name might be a misnomer, peanuts and tree nuts are different. As stated by the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, tree nut allergies, which grow on trees, include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts. They are one of the eight most common food allergies. While still a common allergen, peanuts are a legume since it grows in a pod. Given the potential health concern regarding exposure to an allergen, the FDA and companies often quickly recall products that have undisclosed allergens on the label. For consumers with some Publix biscotti at home, it might be time to look a little more closely at that coffee's dipping companion.

While some people might look at a label's ingredient list as an afterthought, some allergy sufferers carefully scrutinize every word. When a potential health hazard goes undisclosed, it could have an adverse effect. According to a recent FDA notice, Sotto i Trulli INC/DBA Bombolo Biscotti voluntarily recalled its Assorted Italian Cookies due to undisclosed walnuts in its Italian Wedding Cookies. These cookies were at Publix Supermarkets in select Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina locations with an expiration date of 04/05/2023. Consumers can get a refund for the purchased cookies.

Over the past several weeks, several food recalls have been in the news. Both Nestle Toll House Chocolate Cookie Dough and frozen pork patties were recalled for potential plastic contaminants. Concerns over listeria, salmonella, and other potential hazards have raised concerns with consumers. Although these frightening recall notices can be a tough nut to crack, the swift action from both brands and regulatory agencies helps to remove harmful food items. While some people may not want to put the food in the trash, it is better than the negative alternative.