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The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert on Nov. 6 for three frozen Betterballen Foods products with allergens missing from their labels. Consumers should not eat matching packages and should discard them or return them; no related adverse reactions have been confirmed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on Nov. 6 for three frozen products from Betterballen Foods LLC because their labels do not declare allergens they contain. The products were sold online nationwide, and consumers with matching packages should not eat them, FSIS said.
The alert covers clear, vacuum-packed frozen Bami Rolls, Saté Kroketten and Bitterballen, all with best-by dates of October 2027. The Bami Rolls come in six-piece packages with lot codes BR-2026-01 or BR-2026-02. The 10-piece Saté Kroketten have lot code SK-1026-01, and the 12-piece Bitterballen have lot code BB-1026-01. Packages also bear establishment number EST. M3177 or EST. P3177 inside the USDA inspection mark.
FSIS says sesame is not declared on the affected labels. The beef product also contains Worcestershire sauce made with anchovy, a fish allergen, which is not declared. Consumers should compare the product names, lot codes and other package details with the labels posted on the USDA website, rather than relying on the product name alone.
FSIS said consumers who bought an affected product should throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. The agency did not request a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase, but it is concerned that packages could still be stored in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. The frozen foods are not ready to eat.
Allergens Missing From Frozen Food Labels
Undeclared allergens can pose a serious risk to people with food allergies, who may not know a product contains an ingredient they need to avoid. In this alert, sesame affects all three listed products; the additional undeclared anchovy is in the beef product. Checking the lot code and package mark can help consumers identify the affected food even if they recognize the brand or product.
The warning also matters because the products are frozen and may have been bought earlier, then set aside. Although they are no longer available for purchase, FSIS says packages could remain at home. Consumers should check their freezers before preparing these foods and should not assume that cooking makes a product appropriate for someone with an allergy.
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How FSIS Identified the Labeling Problem
According to the source report, FSIS found the issue during a routine label review. The agency issued a public health alert rather than requesting a recall because the products were no longer being sold. The stated concern is that some consumers may still have bought and stored them.
Lowlands House sold the products online nationwide. They may also have been sold at a festival and farmers market in Greer, South Carolina, but the release did not identify either venue. The source report says FSIS had received no confirmed reports of adverse reactions linked to eating the products at the time of the alert.
“Consumers who purchased the affected products should not eat them.”
— USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Sales Locations and Health Effects
The FSIS alert, as described in the report, does not name the Greer festival or farmers market where the products may have been sold. It is also not clear how many packages were distributed or how many could remain in consumers’ homes. The report does not provide details about the quantity of sesame or anchovy in the products.
FSIS reported no confirmed adverse reactions associated with the products when the alert was issued. That does not establish whether anyone may have experienced symptoms that were not reported or confirmed. Anyone concerned about a possible reaction should contact a health care provider, the agency advises.
Check Packages and Contact FSIS
Consumers can compare packages against the USDA-posted labels, checking the product name, lot code, October 2027 best-by date and establishment number. If a package matches, do not eat it; discard it or return it to the place of purchase. People with questions about the alert can contact Betterballen Foods owner Brian Kops at 312-340-4823 or [email protected].
Food-safety questions can also be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or [email protected]. Further information may follow if FSIS or the company updates the alert. The source report does not give a date for any expected update.
Key Questions
Which products are covered by the alert?
The alert lists six-piece Bami Rolls with lot codes BR-2026-01 or BR-2026-02; 10-piece Saté Kroketten with lot code SK-1026-01; and 12-piece Bitterballen with lot code BB-1026-01. All have best-by dates of October 2027 and may show EST. M3177 or EST. P3177 in the USDA inspection mark.
What allergens are missing from the labels?
FSIS says the affected products contain undeclared sesame. The beef product also contains Worcestershire sauce made with anchovy, a fish allergen, which is not declared on its label.
What should I do if I have one of the products?
Do not eat it. FSIS advises consumers to throw an affected product away or return it to the place of purchase. Check the package details against the USDA-posted labels to confirm whether it matches.
Have any illnesses or reactions been confirmed?
The report says there were no confirmed reports of adverse reactions linked to eating the products when the alert was issued. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a health care provider.
Source: dailyvoice.com
