The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of a popular flavor of Friendly’s ice cream this week.
“The recalled product was mistakenly packaged in Friendly’s Vanilla Bean ice cream cartons with a Cookies & Cream lid,” the FDA said.
The recalled 48-ounce ice cream tubs were distributed to retail stores in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, according to the FDA, and people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or wheat run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the dessert.
“In my experience, such recalls are triggered by supplier notifications or even routine product testing,” Northeastern University professor, food safety expert, and Alliance for Recall Ready Communities adviser Darin Detwiler told NTD. “The most common situations are consumer reports of allergic reactions or noticing undeclared allergens on the ingredient list.”
Company leaders did not respond to requests for comment by the time this report was published.
The FDA said no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported and that the “best by date” stamped on the carton lid is Nov. 26.
“The voluntary recall was initiated after it was discovered that a limited quantity of Cookies & Cream ice cream was mistakenly packaged in a Friendly’s Vanilla Bean ice cream cartons that did not identify the soy and wheat ingredients,” the FDA further stated.
The FDA urged consumers who purchased Friendly’s Vanilla Bean ice cream containers with a Cookies & Cream lid to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
In June, some 6,668 cases of Breyers Chocolate Truffle 1.5-quart cartons that contained Rocky Road ice cream and were packaged with a Rocky Road lid were recalled.
The reason for the Breyers recall was undeclared allergens and mislabeled product.
“Tub said ‘may contain tree nuts’ the lid said it did contain almonds,” the FDA enforcement report stated.
Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, hazel nuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts are all considered tree nuts by the FDA, which subsequently classified the Breyers’ mispackaging recall at a Class II risk level threat.
