Allergic reaction leads to recall of Gia Russa bread crumbs for tree nuts

FDA says testing determined that an ingredient likely was the source

An allergic reaction to Gia Russa whole grain bread crumbs prompted a recall when testing confirmed the product contained walnuts and pecans that weren’t noted on labels, the FDA announced.

After a customer complained to ICCO Cheese Company, the business investigated and learned through third-party testing that the product included the allergens. “The source of the tree nut allergen is believed to be the bread used by a supplier of the bread crumbs used by ICCO to repack the product,” the FDA says in its announcement.

The recalled products distributed to stores nationwide are 10-oz. cans of Gia Russa unseasoned (UPC 0-26825-01853-2) and Italian-seasoned (UPC 0-26825-01854-9 ) whole grain bread crumbs with best by dates printed on the bottom as 08/21/2019, 09/21/2019, 10/04/2019, 11/09/2019, 11/12/2019 and 12/05/2019.

The allergic reaction was the only one reported at the time of the recall announcement.

People with a tree nut allergy or severe sensitivity should not eat the bread crumbs because they could cause a serious or life-threatening reaction, the FDA says. People can return the bread crumbs to the store for a refund.

Anyone with questions can call Gia Russa at 888-794-3426, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT, Monday-Friday.

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Rose Shilling is a previous managing editor of Food Engineering Magazine. She wrote feature stories on a variety of topics and tracked the food packaging industry. A journalist with an editing background at news services and newspapers, she also has driven editorial projects in health care and higher education.