The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a public health alert this week involving three varieties of burritos sold through Costco’s same-day delivery.
The product contains egg, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.
“The problem was discovered by a consumer that identified the product contained in the carton of ‘Red's Steak Cilantro and Lime burrito’ was a different product, which contains egg, and had been incorrectly labeled,” federal officials said. “The consumer reported the issue to the producing establishment, and the establishment notified FSIS.”
The public health notice is applicable to 3-pound, 2-ounce cartons containing ten individually wrapped burritos that were produced on June 19.
There are nine major food allergens that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all companies to identify in their products. In addition to eggs, they include milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
For the majority of diners, eating a burrito on the go that contains undisclosed eggs is unremarkable. Consumers with a soy allergy, however, may have a reaction, which raises the stakes of consuming them. To date, no fatalities, injuries, or hospitalizations have been reported so far.
The burritos are not officially under recall because they are no longer available for purchase.
Company officials did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' freezers and urged consumers who have purchased it not to consume it.
Instead, the product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Last week, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC voluntarily withdrew two varieties of its spicy breakfast burrito due to an undeclared soy allergen.
The recall is applicable to the 8.3-ounce Sprig & Sprout Spicy Breakfast Burrito and the 8.2-ounce Fresh and Ready Spicy Breakfast Burrito, which were distributed at grab and go markets and vending machines in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.