The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of a popular ice cream sold in 31 states at Kroger and Giant Eagle.
“Although our investigation is ongoing, we believe products containing wheat were repacked into the incorrect packaging at the beginning of a production run,” the FDA said.
The sweet treat is promoted on packaging as "creamy milk chocolate ice cream wrapped in rich dark chocolate" and was shipped to Kroger and Giant Eagle grocery stores in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
The batch code is LLA519501 with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2027.
Although no illnesses or injuries have been reported to date, the FDA urges wheat-sensitive consumers who have purchased the ice cream not to consume the product and instead dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
“We are recalling this product because it may contain products that contain wheat in packaging that does not reveal the presence of wheat on the label,” the FDA said.
The importance of the recall, noted by the FDA, is that an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat can result in serious or life-threatening bodily reactions.
There are nine major food allergens that the FDA requires all companies to identify in their products, which include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream company leaders did not respond to requests for comment.
Last month, the FDA announced the recall of Publix Rich & Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream sold in six states due to the potential presence of undeclared eggs.
The recall occurred because the Publix Rich & Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream half-gallon container may have contained the lid from Publix Rich & Creamy French Vanilla Ice Cream.
Like with the wheat allergen, the FDA said that people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs may run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the product.