Vanilla Almond Breeze Almond Milk Recall Caused by Cow’s Milk Entering Production Line

If you’re allergic to dairy, you should be aware of the Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk recall.  Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk has a possible contamination with cow’s milk.

A milk allergy means all milk and dairy products must be avoided, even those labeled “lactose-free.” A milk allergy is like any other allergy that can cause wheezing, hives, or even life-threatening anaphylactic shock. According to kidswithfoodallergies.org, one to two percent of children in the U.S. are allergic to milk.

People who are not allergic or sensitive to cow’s milk won’t experience any problems with the recalled product. However, for those allergic to milk, the Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk recall is particularly important.

In recent years, consumers have become more aware of lactose intolerance, which has spurred the popularity of non-cow’s milk products. Lactose intolerance is not the same thing as a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance means the body lacks an enzyme to properly digest milk, usually leading to stomach distress. Dairy allergies suffer more severe reactions.

Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk recall

HP Hood, maker of Blue Diamond Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk, announced the recall on Aug. 2, 2018 because nearly 150,000 half-gallon cartons could contain cow’s milk. HP Hood apparently processes almond milk and cow’s milk at the same plant, and an employee allegedly made a mistake by mixing cow’s milk with a batch of almond milk.

All of the potentially affected products have a sell-by date of Sept. 2, 2018. The following information will be stamped on cartons included in the Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk recall:

USE BY: SEP 02 18 (07:36 – 20:48) H5 L1 51-4109

USE BY: SEP 02 18 (07:36 – 20:48) H5 L2 51-4109

USE BY: SEP 02 18 (07:36 – 20:48) H6 L1 51-4109

USE BY: SEP 02 18 (07:36 – 20:48) H6 L2 51-4109

The almond milk cartons affected by the recall were sent to the following 28 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Only the vanilla-flavored Almond Breeze almond milk is covered under this recall. The plain variety and any other flavors were not affected by the possible contamination.

What Constitutes “Milk”?

The Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk recall comes at a time when the FDA is focusing on the use of the word “milk” in reference to plant-based milk substitutes.

In July 2018, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb approached the question of whether or not the “standards of identity” should allow calling vegetable-based products “milk”. The FDA’s definition of “milk” is the “lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the milking of one or more healthy cows.”

Soy, almond, rice and coconut milks all consist of water and juices obtained from seeds, nuts or legumes. Several varieties and flavors are available. Many contain added vitamins and minerals, and some are even marketed as having more calcium than cow’s milk because of the fortified mixtures. Thickeners are often added to mimic the thickness of whole cow’s milk.

According to Mintel, a marketing analysis company, the sales of non-dairy milk products have increased 61 percent since 2012. The success of soy, almond, rice and coconut milk has given rise to pecan, hazelnut, quinoa, cashew and flax milks.

If you or someone you love has ingested vanilla almond milk covered by the Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk recall and suffered an allergic reaction due to the cow’s milk contamination, you could benefit from seeking legal counsel.

Join a Free Almond Milk Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk in one of the 28 states where the affected milk was sold, you may qualify to join this Almond Breeze almond milk recall class action lawsuit investigation.

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