Whole Foods-Branded Caesar Dressing Recalled In 26 States Due To Undeclared Allergens

A company is recalling a certain Whole Foods Market 365-branded Caesar dressing due to the presence of undeclared allergens. The product was distributed in 26 states.

The recalled Van Law Food Products' "Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing" contains undeclared soy and wheat, according to the company announcement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

Upon investigation, the company learned that the back label of another product was actually "mistakenly put" on the product that is now being recalled. In the images shared by the agency, one can see that the back label says "Classic Ranch Dressing & Dip" instead.

Those who are in possession of an affected product are being advised to discard it and get a refund using the receipt. The affected Caesar dressing product has the UPC code 99482-49027 and the best by date of 04/06/2023, according to the announcement.

It was distributed in 26 states: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Photos of the recalled product's labeling are available on the FDA website. Those who have questions about the recall may contact the company at 1-844-936-8255.

"No illnesses have been reported to date," the announcement noted.

Soy and Wheat Allergy

Soy and wheat are among the eight foods that were identified as "major food allergens" under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA).

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), a wheat allergy reaction may "range from mild to life-threatening," with each reaction's severity being unpredictable. Someone who has had a previous mild reaction may experience a more severe reaction such as anaphylaxis the following time.

The same goes for soy allergy, wherein symptoms may be different with every reaction, the ACAAI noted. As the organization explained, "all food allergies can be dangerous." This is why it's important for those with food allergies to read food labels thoroughly and to keep epinephrine in hand in case of anaphylaxis.

According to the FDA, at the time that FALCPA was passed, the eight major allergens were responsible for "90% of food allergies and serious allergic reactions in the U.S." By January 2023, sesame will be added to the list, making it the ninth major food allergen.