Missing Allergens on Store Labels Leads to Recall

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that Weis Markets’ ready-to-eat (RTE) General Tso Chicken meals may contain milk, a known allergen.  The problem was discovered when Weis Markets in Sunbury, Pa. reported that they had been using correctly labeled, USDA inspected and passed chicken products containing milk ingredients but did not update their in-store labels for General Tso Chicken meals to include milk as an ingredient.

Print-and-apply labels continue to be an issue, especially when information is added into the system.  If not done correctly, especially with regard to allergen labeling, a recall situation will occur.  The task of adding the information into the system is often left to non-technical staff.

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Weis Markets’ Ready-To-Eat General Tso Chicken Meals Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that Weis Markets’ ready-to-eat (RTE) General Tso Chicken meals may contain milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the store’s finished product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with an allergy to milk are aware that these products should not be consumed.

The RTE General Tso Chicken meals were prepared, labeled and sold in the Deli area at Weis Markets stores between April 13, 2022, and May 11, 2022. The products have sell by dates of April 13, 2022 through May 15, 2022. The following products are subject to this public health alert [view labels]:

Deli compartment containers containing “Weis GENERAL TSO CHICKEN FAMILY MEAL Serving Size 1 cup Calories 500.”
Deli compartment containers containing “Weis GENERAL TSO CHICKEN SMALL MEAL Serving Size 1 cup Calories 500.”
Deli compartment containers containing “Weis GENERAL TSO MEAL Serving Size 1 each Calories 910.”

These items were sold at Weis Markets’ retail delis in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The problem was discovered when Weis Markets in Sunbury, Pa. reported that they had been using correctly labeled, USDA inspected and passed chicken products containing milk ingredients but did not update their in-store labels for General Tso Chicken meals to include milk as an ingredient.

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.




FSIS has verified the affected products are no longer available for sale but is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators. 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.




Consumers and members of the media with questions about the public health alert can contact Weis Markets at (866) 999-9347, option 5, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.




Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.