Nut Allergy Alert: Cakes Recalled Nationwide Over Undeclared Hazelnuts

Cake lovers, beware! Your slice of 3-layer cookies and crème or vanilla bean waterfall cake could contain a nutty surprise.

Pennsylvania’s Rise Baking Company has voluntarily recalled two of its cakes – Harris Teeter Brand 8” 3-layer Cookies and Crème Cake and Dawn Food Products Brand 7” 2-layer Vanilla Bean Waterfall Cake – due to incorrect allergen labeling on the product.

The company, which sells the cakes nationwide, issued the recall on March 31 after the products were found to contain hazelnuts, without hazelnuts being listed on the product label.

The recalled cookies and crème cake is sold in a 48 oz, clear plastic package, and the vanilla bean waterfall cake is sold in a 35 oz clear plastic package.

The recall applies to cakes with the following lot numbers: 

• Y0356 2 1001686863
• YOR 1007 1 1001718406
• YOR 1034 1 1001755913
• YOR 1034 1 1001755914
• YOR 1035 1 1001755914
• Y0189 1 1001552111
• Y0230 1 1001586399

Consumers who have purchased these cakes are being urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. 

“People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to hazelnuts run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product,” the company said, adding no related illnesses had been reported to date.

The recall comes after the company launched an investigation into a change in raw material that had not been introduced into the company’s ingredient review process, following a change in production ownership, says the FDA notice. Production of the cakes has been suspended to ensure the issue is properly resolved.

Rise Baking Company does not currently face a class action lawsuit over the undeclared nuts, but Top Class Actions tracks recalls in the interest of consumer safety.

Consumers with questions may contact Ken McCloud, Senior Director of Quality Assurance at 715- 426-2090. Call between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CDT.

Hazelnuts are categorized as tree nuts, and according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, tree nut allergy is one of the eight most common food allergies, affecting roughly 0.5 to 1 percent of the U.S. population.

Reactions to tree nuts can be severe, including life-threatening anaphylaxis, and individuals with a tree nut allergy should have epinephrine available at all times, the ACAAI says on its website.

In January, snack manufacturers think! and Interpac Technologies announced a voluntary recall of its Protein + Fiber and Farmer’s Market Berry Crumble oatmeal products after an undeclared almond was found in a pack by a consumer.

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 requires products to be clearly labeled if they contain these potentially harmful ingredients. All of the affected products include the following statement on the packaging, “MADE IN A FACILITY THAT PROCESSES…TREE NUTS,” according to the FDA cake recall notice.

Have you ever discovered an undeclared nut in something you’ve been snacking on? Let us know in the comments section!

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