Allergen Contamination Leads to Gravy Recall

(ReliableNews.org) – Gravy is one of America’s comfort foods. During the holiday season, it’s often used to smother turkey and dressing, making the food delicious and moist. One brand of the pantry staple was recalled this holiday season.

At the end of November, Seneca Foods Corporation issued a voluntary recall for Hy-Vee Turkey gravy in glass jars. The company said the gravy might contain beef gravy too and it could cause a food allergy for having an undeclared soy allergen. People who have a soy allergy could potentially have a life-threatening reaction to the product. No illnesses have been reported at the time of this writing.

Seneca Foods stated that the recall only impacted the Hy-Vee Turkey Gravy that was sold by Hy-Vee; none of the other retailers were impacted. The company said that it was in the process of retrieving the gravy from shelves. Consumers should also look through their pantries and return jars to the retailer where they purchased the product. Look for labels with the following information:

Hy-Vee Turkey Gravy in a 12-ounce glass jar
Individual lot code on the lid: A3CG162M A3CG192M
UPC: 75450-03608

Consumers seeking more information can call Seneca Foods Consumer Affairs at 1-800-872-1110.

According to Trustwell, undeclared allergens were the number one reason for food product recalls in 2023. The agency found they made up 63% of recalls from January through August 2023. That was up from 47% in 2022.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers food allergens a major food hazard. For that reason, they have very strict rules about how companies should properly label products. People who have severe food allergies could die if they had a small amount of food that they were allergic to. The FDA requires nine allergens to be labeled, those are: