Costco has issued a recall in 16 states for prepackaged salads containing undeclared ingredients that could prove deadly for those with allergies.
A recall notice shared to the Costco website warns consumers that some packages of the members-only retailer's "Grain + Celery Salad" product were "inadvertently marked as item #25247 Ancient Grain + Vegetable Salad." The actual salad in the packages may contain soy and almonds.
Read more: What Is a Health Savings Account?
Costco urged customers with soy or almond allergies to return their purchased salads for a refund, pointing out that "people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or almonds run the risk of severe life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product."
The mislabeled salads were sold at the following 24 Costco warehouse locations in 16 states:
- California: San Juan Capistrano, Culver City, Bakersfield, Tustin and Chula Vista
- Nevada: Summerlin
- Montana: Billings
- Oregon: Wilsonville
- Washington: Clarkston and Lake Stevens
- Illinois: Lincoln Park
- Kentucky: Florence
- Michigan: Middlebelt
- Ohio: Avon
- Texas: Webster
- Connecticut: New Britain
- Maryland: Arundel Mills
- New Jersey: North Plainfield
- Pennsylvania: Montgomeryville
- Florida: Davie, E. Orlando (Winter Park) and Pembroke Pines
- Georgia: Mall of Georgia and Fort Oglethorpe.
The salads can be returned to the stores where they were purchased for a refund. Costco customers can also contact the company with any questions over the phone at 800-774-2678 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time from Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Read more: Compare the Top Health Savings Account (HSA) Providers
It was unclear whether there have been reports of adverse reactions related to the salads at the time of publication.
Newsweek reached out for comment to Costco via online contact form on Monday.
Concerns about undeclared allergens, often caused by mislabeling, prompt companies to issue recalls of food products.
In two separate recalls last month, consumers were warned that Ready Pac "Bistro Grande Southwestern Style" salad bowls sold in California and Nevada could contain fish and wheat, while pecans were the concern for "Tuscan Salad Bowls" sold at Heinen's retail locations in Ohio and Illinois.
Although most unlisted but otherwise typical food ingredients may be of little concern to the health of many consumers, mislabeling can inadvertently cause the potentially fatal condition of anaphylaxis in those with related allergies.
Earlier this year, a recall was issued for Florentine cookies sold by the Connecticut-based supermarket chain Stew Leonard's following the death of 25-year-old dancer Órla Baxendale, who ate the cookies without realizing that they contained undeclared peanuts.
"This is a heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened," Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a statement at the time. "Our condolences go out to the family affected by this incident."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Aila Slisco is a Newsweek night reporter based in New York. Her focus is on reporting national politics, where she ... Read more
