In April 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instructed DSD Merchandisers, Inc. to recall all “10oz. Roasted/Salted Deluxe Mixed Nuts” products because their packaging doesn’t say they contain peanuts. The recalled nuts are sold in a variety of grocery chains in the western part of the U.S. and the FDA’s alert comes as an investigation showed the peanut-containing mixed nuts were mistakenly shipped to stores without the proper warning label.
The recall affects over two thousand individual tubs from the California – based food manufacturer, and they have the best before dates of 12/28/2020 and 01/01/2021. The mixed nuts products were distributed to Northern California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. At this time, there have been no illnesses or reactions reported to the Food and Drug Administration. Production of the mixed roasted and salted nuts has been stopped until the FDA and DSD Merchandisers, Inc. are certain that the problem with the processing has been corrected.
Ways to Be Exposed to Peanuts
An allergic reaction can arise from direct contact, cross – contact, and inhalation.
- Direct contact is the most common way to be exposed, and this includes eating peanuts or peanut – containing foods. Sometimes contact on skin can also cause a reaction, depending on the severity of a person’s peanut allergy.
- Cross – contact is usually a result of food being exposed to peanuts during a processing or handling (often in the food service industry), and then the peanut residue spreading to a person with a peanut allergy.
- Lastly, people can be exposed to peanut residue through inhalation. The most common inhaled peanut products are peanut flour and peanut oil cooking spray.
Peanut Allergy Health Concerns
Food allergies are a major concern for parents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and nut allergies tend to the be the most dangerous and life-threatening food allergies. The concern also lies with food service providers who must make sure that any food they serve neither contains peanut nor has been in contact with peanut residue. Unlike other allergies, a peanut allergy can be especially dangerous and can have stronger adverse reactions.
It isn’t entirely clear why some people develop these allergies and others don’t, however certain risk factors correlate with greater chance of developing these allergies. These include: age, past allergy to peanuts or other allergies, family history of allergies, or a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (a skin condition also known as eczema).
People who suffer from nut allergies may experience symptoms like:
- Rashes
- Hives
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The most serious symptom, however, is anaphylaxis– a medical emergency experienced when the airways narrow and it becomes extremely difficult to breathe. Common signs that someone is experiencing anaphylaxis include:
- Constriction of airways
- Swelling of the throat
- A severe drop in blood pressure
- A Rapid pulse or racing heart
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or even loss of consciousness
The only way to treat anaphylaxis is through an epinephrine (adrenaline) injector as soon as possible, followed by a trip to the emergency room. People who have peanut allergies should contact their doctor to obtain an epinephrine (adrenaline) injector such as an EpiPen or Auvi-Q.
These symptoms can appear almost immediately, depending on the severity of a person’s allergies and the amount of peanut or peanut-based products he or she consumed or came into contact with.
Food manufacturers are required to inform customers if products contain peanuts, or if products may have come in contact with peanuts during processing. Often times, companies must have separate facilities to make sure products that don’t contain peanuts don’t come in contact with peanut dust or residue.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-934-6555
If You Believe You Have Been Affected
Consumers who think they may have come into contact with mislabeled food packages containing peanuts should contact the manufacturer to check on any outstanding recalls. The best place to find accurate information on food recalls or warnings is the Food and Drug Administration webpage.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm urges anyone who purchased mislabeled food packages who then became sick due to food allergies to contact our firm for legal advice at (800) 614-2067. Your product liability attorney will evaluate your case, conduct an investigation, and build you a personal injury case. You might be eligible to significant compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. We provide free consultations to potential clients in 50 states, and we never charge any attorneys’ fees until we win your case.
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