Steamed Bun Recall in 27 States As Threat-to-Life Warning Issued

A steamed bun product is being recalled in 27 states after it was found to potentially contain a life-threatening allergen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced.

Prime Foods Processing, based in Brooklyn, New York, is recalling 477 cases of its Egg Custard Steamed Buns after discovering that they may contain undeclared sesame.

The recall affects two specific products: Steam Buns with Egg Custard Added (Item #PD4180) and Steam Buns with Egg Custard and Coconut Added (Item #PD4190). The affected lot codes are #24149 and #24150, with an expiration date of October 2025.

The products were distributed between May 30, 2024, and June 28, 2024, through grocery stores in 27 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

The buns are packaged in bright yellow packaging, and the lot code can be found on the bottom of the left side panel.

The recall was initiated after an internal review found that six cases of sesame-steamed buns had been mistakenly packaged as egg custard steamed buns.

No consumer complaints or illnesses have been reported as of the announcement on August 9, 2024. However, the company has identified the cause as a temporary breakdown in its packaging process, which has since been corrected.

The FDA and Prime Foods are urging consumers who have purchased these products to return them to the store where they were bought for a full refund.

Consumers are also advised not to consume the products, even if they have already been opened.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rashes, hives, itching, vomiting and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramping, swelling of the throat and vocal cords, and coughing or wheezing.

Allergic reactions can cause serious harm and even be deadly if they cause anaphylaxis, which is when the body’s immune system overreacts to the presence of the allergen.

Sesame is one of the FDA’s nine major allergens, with the others being wheat, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, egg, crustaceans (shellfish) and fish. It is legally required for food manufacturers to clearly label the nine most common allergens on all products.

According to the FDA, which sets the rules around food labeling throughout the U.S., if a “contains” statement appears on a food label, it must include the food source names of all major food allergens that have been used as ingredients.

Newsweek contacted Prime Foods for comment via online form outside business hours.