Wrong Label on Soup Results in Recall Due to Allergens

A Mass. establishment is recalling soup after Italian Wedding soup was labeled as Chicken Soup.  Because of this, allergens such as eggs, milk, and wheat were not declared on the label. 


This establishment is most probably a dual jurisdiction facility (FDA and USDA) and so these products may not fall under Preventive Controls.  Even so, a Preventive Controls application for allergens would help add extra measures for preventing this type of issue.  If container labeling had been designated a Preventive Control, then monitoring of labels as well as verification could have been heightened.

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/recall-004-2017-release
Kettle Cuisine, LLC Recalls Chicken Soup Product Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall 004-2017
Health Risk: High Jan 12, 2017

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2017 – Kettle Cuisine, LLC, a Lynn, Mass. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,096 pounds of chicken soup product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The label declares the product to be chicken soup, when it is actually an Italian wedding soup with meatballs. The product also contains eggs, milk, and wheat, known allergens which are not declared on the product label.

The chicken soup items were produced and packaged on January 3, 2017. The following products are subject to recall:[Label]
24 ounce cups containing “MOM’S CHICKEN SOUP” with a “USE BY” date of 02/17/17

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-18468” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to Whole Foods Market locations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

The problem was discovered when a retail store noted that product labeled as “Mom’s Chicken Soup” actually contained “Italian Wedding Soup with Meatballs”.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Richard Bourgeoise, Director of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance, at (617) 409-1120. Media with questions about the recall can contact Sandy Rega, Senior Director Marketing, at (617) 409-1163.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

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