The Reason Whole Foods' Caesar Dressing Is Being Recalled
A voluntary recall has been issued for Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing following the discovery that the product may contain undeclared soy and wheat allergens, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports. This recall has prompted the removal of the product from retail outlets in 11 states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, and New Hampshire. Per the FDA, the product could cause serious and even life threatening reactions if consumed by those with allergies or severe sensitivities to soy or wheat, although fortunately, so far no illnesses have been reported in relation to the recall.
The product's maker, Van Law Food Products, Inc., was the initiator of the recall after it was discovered that the packaging failed to disclose the presence of soy and wheat allergens. According to the FDA, the problem was caused by a breakdown in Van Law's packaging and labeling processes.
What to do if you purchased Whole Foods 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing
Only Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing packaged in 12 ounce bottles with the UPC 99482-49028 and best by date of November 17, 2022 were affected by the recall, notes the FDA. Those who may have purchased bottles of the creamy Caesar dressing are urged to either discard them or return the product (along with the receipt) to the store from which they were purchased for a full refund.
This is not the first time Whole Foods Market has had an issue with undeclared food allergens. In December 2020, The FDA issued a warning letter to Whole Foods Market after the company had recalled 30 food products for undeclared food allergens during the course of the previous year. Though the letter stated the agency had "noticed similar [recall] patterns" in previous years, the letter marked the first time it had warned the grocery chain of such.
According to the FDA, there are eight major food allergens — milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans -– and their omission from labels has been the leading cause of food recalls in recent years.