Consumers are being warned of potentially life-threatening allergic reactions due to undeclared ingredients in multiple recalled dough-based Russian delicacies.
A notice shared on the website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday informed consumers that M&P Food Production Ltd. was recalling several types of pirozhki, vareniki and “Russian style” blintzes due to the potential unlabeled presence of wheat, milk and sesame.
The recalled food items, consisting of nine different varieties, were all sold from August 27, 2023, until August 27, 2024, at retail stores in the following five states: Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida.
“People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat, milk, and/or sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products,” the notice states.
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The following types of M&P Russian-style blintzes—rolled thin pancakes filled with sweet cheese or other items—were recalled: 14-ounce packages of “Cheese & Cherry Blintzes” with the UPC number 707163303257 and 14-ounce packages of “Cheese Blintzes” with the UPC number 707163303251.
The company’s recalled pirozhki, which are sweet or savory filled buns that are baked or fried, consisted of the following products in 40-piece boxes: “Pirozhki with Black Currant,” “Pirozhki with Potatoes” and “Pirozhki with Cabbage.” None of the pirozhki products included UPC numbers.
Recalled M&P varenikis, or boiled dumplings, included the following items in 14-ounce packages: “Sour Cherry Vareniki” with the UPC number 707163026150, “Potato & Onion Vareniki” with the UPC number 707163026167, “Potato & Mushroom Vareniki” with the UPC number 707163026174 and “Farmer Cheese Vareniki” with the UPC number 707163026181.
All of the recalled items were labeled with best-before dates from “08/27/2024” to “08/27/2025.”
The notice urges consumers who purchased the products should return them to their point of purchase for a full refund. Customers with additional questions can contact the company over the phone at 718-438-5197 on Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
The recall was initiated following an FDA inspection that revealed the presence of wheat, milk and sesame despite the ingredients not being on labeling. The company said that no related illness had been reported at the time that the recall was issued.
Newsweek reached out for comment to the FDA via email on Thursday night.
While the presence of ingredients like milk, wheat or sesame would likely not spark any major health concerns for most consumers, the ingredients could prompt the sometimes fatal condition of anaphylaxis in those with related food allergies.
Anaphylaxis requires prompt medical attention due to symptoms that include throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Other symptoms of serious allergic reactions include rashes, hives, itching, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping.
About 6 percent of U.S. adults and 8 percent of children have at least one food allergy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wheat, milk and sesame are all on a list of ingredients that the FDA has designated “major food allergens.” The other major allergens include: eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and soybeans.
In addition to allergy concerns, wheat poses a serious medical risk for those with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that leaves those affected with hypersensitivity to the gluten found in wheat and some other grains.
Undeclared milk can also trigger unpleasant symptoms for those with lactose intolerance, a condition that prevents people from being able to properly digest a type of sugar that is present in dairy products.