Grocery Stores Remove Thousands of Pies After Yellow #5 Labeling Violation

Five different pie varieties are included in the recall, all featuring 8-inch round pies weighing 27 ounces with a best-by date of Feb. 19, 2027.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 9/8/2025, 4:33:32 PM EDT

Grocery Stores Remove Thousands of Pies After Yellow #5 Labeling Violation — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in White Oak, Md., on June 5, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

More than 130,000 lemon meringue pie units have been recalled across 14 states due to the presence of unlabeled Yellow #5 dye in the filling, federal health officials announced.

The synthetic coloring agent, officially known as tartrazine, was found in pies manufactured by Jessie Lord Bakery, LLC, without proper disclosure on product labels. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, this ingredient must be clearly listed because it can cause adverse reactions in individuals with food dye sensitivities.

The FDA has designated this a Class II recall, indicating a moderate health hazard. According to the FDA's enforcement report, the recall was initiated voluntarily by Jessie Lord Bakery on Aug. 20, 2025, and officially classified by federal regulators on Sept. 4.

Five different pie varieties are included in the recall, all featuring 8-inch round pies weighing 27 ounces with a best-by date of Feb. 19, 2027. The recalled items include both standard and sugar-free versions sold under multiple retail brands.

Jessie's Lemon Meringue Pie carries UPC code 0 41512 08275 7 and item code 08276. The sugar-free variant displays UPC 8 85523 30811 2 with item code 30811. A generic-labeled version shows UPC 8 85523 31811 1 and item code 31811.

Store-brand versions include First Street Lemon Meringue Pie with UPC 000 41220 84232 2 and item code 84232, plus H-E-B Bakery Lemon Meringue Pie, which does not list a UPC code. All of the affected products bear lot codes ranging from 24050 through 25231.

The recalled pies reached grocery stores in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Jessie Lord Bakery sent recall notices to retail locations but has not sent a press release for consumers, the FDA noted, meaning some consumers may still have the recalled pies at home or in freezers.

Yellow #5 is an FDA-approved synthetic dye commonly used to enhance the appearance of baked goods and processed foods. Though generally safe for consumption, the additive can trigger allergic responses in sensitive people.

According to FDA guidelines, potential reactions include itching, skin rashes, hives, respiratory issues like asthma, and severe headaches. Due to such documented risks, federal regulations mandate manufacturers disclose when this coloring agent is used, clearly indicated under ingredients.

Shoppers who recently purchased lemon meringue pies should look at their product labels for brand names, UPC codes, lot numbers, and expiration dates. Those with the recalled pies should not eat them and return them to retailers for complete refunds.

Those with questions may contact either the retailer where they purchased the pies or Jessie Lord Bakery directly. No reports of illnesses have emerged.