FDA issues recall over pre-packaged seafood salad sold in five Northeastern states

The FDA issued a recall of a prepackaged seafood salad in five states across the Northeast over concerns it contains a potential allergen. 

There were 1,668 units of the product, Hannaford grocer’s 12oz Hannaford Seafood Salad, distributed at grocery stores between October 25 and October 29 with the wrong label.

The seafood salad contains soy, which can be a dangerous allergen to some, but the packaging didn’t include that detail. 

The product is manufactured by a company called Elevation Foods, and has been recalled from Hannaford grocery stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. 

No one has fallen ill because of the mistake. Instead, authorities were alerted to the problem when the company found that their printer had issued labels that incorrectly stated the ingredients in the mix.

Soy allergies range from mild – causing itching and cough – to severe – causing anaphylaxis and vomiting. During anaphylaxis, the tongue, throat or airway swells up, cutting off oxygen supply, which can cause harm to vital organs and death. 

Considering these risks, the FDA said: ‘Consumers with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.’ 

Hannaford’s is a Northeastern grocery store chain that sells their own brand of prepackaged deli items in store. They have reportedly removed the product from store shelves. 

Still, authorities caution, if you purchased this product from one of the five states mentioned in the past week, you should not eat it. 

You can return them to Hannaford stores for a full refund, according to the FDA. 

If you do experience anaphylaxis in response to a food allergy, you can treat it with an epinephrine auto-injector, otherwise known as an EpiPen, and head to the hospital. 

Even with treatment, experts from the Cleveland Clinic recommend going to the nearest emergency room if you suspect having an allergic reaction. 

When addressed, these attacks are highly treatable, according to the Cleveland Clinic: ‘with prompt treatment, most people make a full recovery.’