Potato Salad Recall Update as FDA Sets Highest Risk Level

The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has classified the risk level of a potato salad product that was taken off shelves as Class I—the most severe category.

Lemonland Food Corp recalled a batch of its Potato Salad, packaged in plastic clamshell containers, on September 11 because of undeclared soybean oil and egg.

Undeclared ingredients can be dangerous for people with intolerances or allergies, who need to know which products to avoid.

In an update issued on Wednesday, the FDA classed it as the highest risk, which is issued in "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

Newsweek has contacted Lemonland Food Corp via email to ask if any illnesses have been reported.

For comparison, Class II is when the "use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

Class III is for when "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences."

Some 120 packages have been affected by the recall, which was issued voluntarily by the Washington State-based firm.

The products, which were distributed in Washington State, weigh 0.56lb each and the H-Mart label declares the ingredients as: "Potato, Mayonnaise, Sugar, Vegetable." The expiry date is September 8 this year.

People with soy allergies who consume soybean oil can suffer symptoms ranging from mild rashes, itches and hives to, in rare cases, severe anaphylaxis. This can be life-threatening, according to Anaphylaxis U.K., which carries out research on serious allergies.

People with soy allergies can suffer an immediate reaction or a delayed reaction, which can come hours to days after eating soy.

Meanwhile, egg allergies can cause rashes, stomach pains and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis.

A cookies recall was also given the highest risk level of Class I in September, with more than 10,000 packages of cookies recalled after they were found to contain an undeclared allergen.

Hawaii-based KTM Services recalled 9,734 5.3oz. packages and 1,275 17.7oz. packages of Enjoy Premium Coconut Cookies due to the presence of milk, a major allergen that was not declared on the product label, in September.