The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall ahead of Thanksgiving on turkey gravy from Seneca Foods Corporation's Hy-Vee range, as some customers could face a "serious or life-threatening allergic reaction" to its contents.
Officials explained that a number of the corporation's Hy-Vee Turkey Gravy glass jars actually contained beef gravy, meaning the beef gravy's soy allergen went unlabeled.
If someone with an allergic reaction to soy consumed the incorrectly described turkey gravy, they could face a range of reactions.
Protein in the soy can bind to antibodies in the immune system in a way that triggers immune defenses.
The research center said "all reactions can be unpredictable" and named anaphylaxis shock as one potential risk. This can be life-threatening and involves symptoms including difficulty breathing and reduced blood pressure that can lead to a loss of consciousness.
Seneca Foods Corporation said in a statement on November 21 that it is not aware of any reports of a consumer illness or health issue as a result of the mislabeled product. Newsweek has reached out to Seneca to see if this is still the case.
In a statement on the FDA's website, the company added: "As a precautionary measure, Seneca Foods Corporation is announcing a voluntary recall of mislabeled Hy-Vee Turkey gravy in glass jars that actually contains beef gravy.
"This product could potentially contain a soy allergen which is not declared on the label...no other retailers are affected. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products."
The recall impacts less than 1 percent of turkey gravy in Hy-Vee stores and customers should check for Hy-Vee Turkey Gravy in 12 oz glass jars with a UPC of 75450-03608 and an individual lot code of A3CG162M A3CG192M.
On its website, the FDA said that "food producers recall their products from the marketplace when the products are mislabeled or when the food may present a health hazard to consumers because the food is contaminated or has caused a foodborne illness outbreak."
It can be returned in the retail outlet where it was purchased, the company said.
For customers looking for replacement gravy on Thanksgiving, not all stores have their usual hours and Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club, Best Buy, Macy's, Trader Joe's, Michaels, Aldi and Kroger have all announced they will be closed.
But Big Lots!, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Rite Aid will remain open.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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