Hot Sauce Recall: Safety Concerns For Wheat Allergy Sufferers

Several types of hot sauces were recalled on Tuesday morning over concerns for consumers who have a wheat allergy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an announcement this week regarding the recall of several lots of hot sauce produced by Vesta Fiery Gourmet Foods, Inc., based in Raleigh, North Carolina. This action is part of an ongoing effort to ensure food safety and protect consumers from potential allergens that may not be clearly listed on product labels.

The recall specifically involves the company's Benny T's Vesta Dry Hot Sauce in various flavors, all packaged in 1.5oz glass jars. These products have been flagged because they contain undeclared wheat, which poses significant risks for individuals who have allergies or severe sensitivities to this common ingredient. The FDA has warned that consuming these products could lead to serious or even life-threatening allergic reactions.

The recalled hot sauces include Benny T's Vesta Dry Hot Sauce Ghost, Hot, Reaper, Scorpion, and Very Hot. The FDA has emphasized the importance of proper labeling and communication about allergens in food products, as failure to do so can result in dire health consequences for vulnerable consumers.

The recall this week comes amid a series of food recalls issued by the FDA in the last few weeks. On Monday, Newsweek published a map of different food recalls announced by the agency since the end of December, which included an array of products, such as kimchi and soybean sprouts.

In the announcement on Tuesday, the FDA stated that Vesta Fiery Gourmet Foods, Inc., was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture on January 4 that the labels for their hot sauces did not clearly indicate that the flour used was wheat flour. According to the FDA, no illnesses have been reported to date in relation to the recalled products, but it is essential for consumers to be aware of the risks.

These products were distributed between October 1, 2023, and January 4, 2024. They were packaged in glass jars and sold primarily online and in retail stores throughout the United States. A spokesperson for Vesta Fiery Gourmet Foods, Inc., informed Newsweek that the recall will involve new packaging that clearly states the presence of wheat.

The FDA urges consumers who have purchased these products not to consume them and to discard the product if they have already done so. The map previously published by Newsweek shows different states that were affected by recent food recalls, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, Virginia, and Texas. In Florida, Texas, and California, the FDA issued a recall for 14-ounce packages of Melissa's Kimchi due to undeclared fish, while in Virginia, a recall was announced for soybean sprouts due to potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.