Nearly 500,000 pounds of ready-to-eat breakfast sandwiches have been recalled nationwide due to a labeling error that left a major allergen undeclared, federal officials announced.
Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, a Salt Lake City-based food manufacturer, issued the recall after discovering that sesame flour was used in the French toast portion of the sandwiches but not listed as an ingredient.
Newsweek contacted Hearthside Food Solutions LLC via email for comment.
Why It Matters
According to food safety officials in the United States, sesame is one of nine major food allergens, along with milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.
These allergens must be clearly identified on food labels, or people with allergies may suffer serious health consequences.
Symptoms of allergic reactions include skin rashes, hives, swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and respiratory issues. Anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal condition, can cause throat swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and unconsciousness.
What To Know
The recalled sandwiches were produced over a two-year period, from April 1, 2023 to March 25, 2025, and distributed to Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations across the country.
The sandwiches have a shelf life of 12 months and may still be in circulation. The affected products, two varieties of French toast breakfast sandwiches, bear the label “LETTIERI’S FOOD TO GO.”
The 8.35-ounce sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich was among those affected. The other option is 7.3 ounces of bacon, egg, and cheese.
All affected packages have lot codes “beginning with the numbers 23, 24, and 25 up to 2508451,” according to a recall announcement issued by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Wednesday.
In addition to the USDA inspection mark, the packages bear the establishment number “EST. V4907”.
Sesame was added to the list of major allergens in the United States under the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2023. The law requires food manufacturers to declare sesame as an ingredient in any product containing it.
According to Food Allergy Research and Education, fewer than 1 million Americans are allergic to sesame, making it the least common of the nine major allergies.
There have been no confirmed adverse reactions to the breakfast sandwich recall, but FSIS has warned that some products may still be in consumers’ or military base freezers.
What People Are Saying
According to the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the product contains sesame, a known allergen that is not declared on the label. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from the use of these products. Anyone who is concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.
What Happens Next
FSIS said it routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to ensure affected items are removed from circulation and that retailers and distributors are notified. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Roger Harris, the chief legal officer at Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, at 630-967-3600.
