The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the recall of Paras Premium Golden Raisins at the highest risk level due to an undeclared allergen in the product.
Newsweek has phoned Apna Wholesale, the company that initiated the recall, but they were not immediately available for comment.
Why It Matters
According to the FDA website, the agency issues a Class I recall in “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
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What To Know
On January 7, 2025, Apna Wholesale recalled its 7-ounce and 14-ounce Paras Premium Golden Raisins because they contained undeclared sulfur dioxide (sulfites).
On February 18, the FDA then published the recall classification as a Class I and warned that people who have a sensitivity or allergy to sulfites who eat the recalled raisins may experience a severe or life-threatening reaction.
The consumption of 10 milligrams of sulfites per serving has been reported to elicit severe reactions in some asthmatics, according to the FDA, potentially resulting in anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
In its recall classification, the FDA noted that there were 56.8 milligrams of sulfites per serving in the product.
The recalled raisins were distributed to Apna Bazar Farmers Market stores in New York and Massachusetts.
The raisins are in clear packaging with UPC numbers 818051014811 and 818051014828, and there are 598 product cases involved in the recall.
The nine main food allergens in the U.S. are milk, eggs, fish, wheat, soybeans, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and sesame.
There had been no reported illnesses by January 22, when the recall was first published by the FDA, but the process is still ongoing.
What People Are Saying
The FDA says on its website regarding food allergies: “Symptoms of food allergies typically appear from within a few minutes to a few hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic. A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis.
Symptoms of allergic reactions can include:
- Hives
- Flushed skin or rashes
- Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
- Face, tongue, or lip swelling
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Coughing or wheezing
- Dizziness and/or light-headedness
- Swelling of the throat and vocal cords
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
People with a known food allergy who begin experiencing any of these symptoms should stop eating the food immediately, evaluate the need to use emergency medication (such as epinephrine) and seek medical attention.
What’s Next
Customers who purchased the recalled raisins are asked to not consume the product and return them where they were originally bought to receive for a full refund.
If customers have additional questions, they may reach Apna Wholesale’s customer support number at 516-807-4555.
