The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised the alert on a recent butter recall by Bunge North America Inc., moving it to a Class II designation, the second-highest level of recall urgency.
According to the FDA, a Class II recall reflects “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Bunge, a food company headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, had voluntarily recalled 64,800 pounds (1,800 cases) of its European Style Butter Blend 1 lb. product on July 14. The concern? Milk, one of the nine major food allergens, was not listed on the packaging.
The recalled butter was shipped in “white paperboard cases” with “36 blocks to a case,” Bunge explained. It was sent to 12 distribution centers across the U.S. and one in the Dominican Republic. The affected lot number is 5064036503.
The FDA has not reported any illnesses tied to the recall as of now.
People with milk allergies are at risk for a range of reactions—from hives, vomiting, and coughing to more severe issues like anaphylaxis. The Mayo Clinic says anaphylaxis can trigger a body-wide immune response and even cause death if untreated.
The FDA reminded consumers that “if symptoms occur, stop eating the food immediately, evaluate the need to use emergency medication (such as epinephrine), and seek medical attention.”
