'Gluten-Free' Baked Goods Recalled Due To Possible Presence Of Gluten

Packaged bakery foods company Flower Foods is recalling two of its gluten-free products as they possibly contain gluten. The company said people who are sensitive to gluten or wheat may experience adverse health reactions if they consume the recalled products.

Flower Foods recalled certain "gluten-free" Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White Bread and Canyon Bakehouse Everything Bagels after gluten was found in them during testing, the company said in an announcement posted on the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) website.

The affected Flower Foods products include:

• Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White Bread -- UPC 8-53584-00200-3 and Lot Number 032220323
• Canyon Bakehouse Everything Bagels -- UPC 8-53584-00221-8 and Lot Number 032220316

The Lot Number is printed on the plastic closure​ that seals the bag, the company said. Consumers who may have purchased the products should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

"The products being recalled were distributed to retail customers in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming," the company said.

Those with wheat allergy, celiac disease or sensitivity may experience adverse health effects if they consume the products, although no illnesses related to the recall have been reported.

Those with questions related to the recall can contact the company's Consumer Relations Center at 1-866-245-8921.

Gluten or wheat sensitivity

Gluten is a protein that can naturally be found in some grains such as barley, wheat and rye. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people with celiac disease cannot eat gluten. The condition damages the small intestine and may cause long-term digestive problems that can prevent patients from getting the nutrients that they need.

Those with wheat allergies may experience symptoms such as hives, nausea, stomach cramps, sneezing, runny nose or headaches. Although less common, some may also experience life-threatening anaphylaxis that can send the body into shock, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) said.

Since allergic reactions are unpredictable, it's important to always have an epinephrine shot nearby.

Wheat allergy is not the same as celiac disease.

"Wheat allergy sometimes is confused with celiac disease, but these conditions differ," Mayo Clinic said. "Wheat allergy occurs when your body produces antibodies to proteins found in wheat. In celiac disease, a specific protein in wheat — gluten — causes a different kind of abnormal immune system reaction."

Those experiencing adverse effects are being advised to consult a specialist to get an accurate diagnosis – a gastroenterologist for suspected celiac disease or an allergist for suspected wheat allergy.