A Popular Milk Brand Is Being Recalled Across 27 States (So Far)
It seems that nearly every month, a new kitchen staple is recalled across the United States. A few days ago shoppers had to check their fridges for potentially contaminated eggs, and just a few weeks later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that people should toss out their milk, too.
Here’s what we know: On September 19, 2024, HP Hood LLC — the popular brand known for selling milk, heavy cream, and cottage cheese products, to name a few — voluntarily recalled five different types of Lactaid because they may contain trace amounts of almonds. This life-threatening ingredient is currently not listed on the label, making it dangerous for people with sensitivity to tree nuts.
The company mislabeled jugs of Lactaid milk and distributed them across the U.S. in 27 states. The alert includes products sold in 96-ounce containers labeled Lactaid Whole Milk, Lactaid 2% Milk, Lactaid 1% Milk, Lactaid Fat-Free Milk, and Lactaid 2% Calcium Enriched Milk. To learn more about the specific expiration dates and codes to check for, review the FDA’s recall statement.
According to the FDA release, there have been no reports of illnesses. However, Hood urges anyone with a food allergy or sensitivity to check their fridges and discard or return any potentially tainted jugs to the store for a full refund, just in case.
So, why is it such a big deal if a food product is mislabeled? The Kitchn spoke with Kara Wada, MD, an allergist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist at the Allergy and Asthma Network, to learn more.
Dr. Parikh says nearly 33 million people in the U.S. have food allergies. “People with food allergies rely heavily on accurate ingredient lists to make safe choices,” Dr. Wada points out. She explains that if a product gets mislabeled and an allergen is not listed, someone with that allergy might unknowingly eat it.
The symptoms associated with an allergic reaction include rashes — which 90 percent of people will get — swelling, itching, trouble breathing (coughing, wheezing), stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, and dizziness, Dr. Parikh says. People who accidentally come in contact with an allergy may also experience anaphylaxis, Dr. Wada explains. “[Anaphylaxis] is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention.”
So if you have any Lactaid jugs hanging out in your fridge, toss them immediately if you have an allergy to tree nuts. If you have further questions or concerns about this recall, contact Hood Consumer Affairs at 800-242-2423 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET.
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