A recall of snacks sold nationwide has been issued over concerns of undeclared ingredients triggering a potentially deadly allergic reaction.
A recall notice shared to the website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday warned consumers that Bliss Tree Butter Snacks could contain milk and sesame without listing the ingredients on the packaging.
The snacks, which were imported by Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Overseas LLC of Edison, New Jersey, were sold at retail stores across the country, and online by Amazon.
Kailash Kumar
The following recalled snack items could contain milk:
- Boxes of Bliss Tree “Ragi Butter Murukku” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087451754 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Pouches of Bliss Tree “Ragi Butter Murukku” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087452829 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Pouches of Bliss Tree “Millet Butter Murukku” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087452850 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Boxes of Bliss Tree “Millet Butter Ribbon Pakoda” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087451624 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Pouches of Bliss Tree “Millet Butter Ribbon Pakoda” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087452843 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Pouches of Bliss Tree “Moringa Butter Murukku” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087452836 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Pouches of Bliss Tree “Curry Leaves Butter Murukku” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087452867 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Boxes of Bliss Tree “Millet Butter Karasev” snacks with a UPC number of 8906087451686 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier.
Boxes of Bliss Tree “Millet Butter Murukku” snacks with the UPC number 8906087451631 and a “Best By” date of May 2025 or earlier may contain milk and sesame.
Customers who purchased the recalled items can return them at the point of purchase for a full refund. Those with additional questions can reach the company via phone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday to Friday at 1-732-675-7935, or by email at sales@srilno.com.
Bliss Tree said that the recall was initiated shortly after the packaging error was discovered, blaming the issue on “a temporary breakdown in the company’s packaging processes.”
No illnesses related to the recall had been reported at the time of publication. Production and distribution of the snacks has been suspended pending verification by the company and the FDA that the issue has been resolved.
Newsweek reached out to Bliss Tree via online contact form on Friday night.
While the inclusion of unexpected milk or sesame might not prompt any serious health concerns for many consumers, those with allergies to the ingredients could be stricken with the sometimes-fatal condition of anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention and causes symptoms that include throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Other symptoms of serious allergic reactions include rashes, hives, itching, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping.
Milk and sesame are considered two of nine “major food allergens” by the FDA. The other major allergens include: eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. About 6 percent of U.S. adults and 8 percent of children have at least one food allergy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition to allergies, milk also poses a risk for people with lactose intolerance, which is an inability to properly digest a type of sugar that is present in dairy products.
Some people with lactose intolerance use supplements containing lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, to prevent symptoms of the condition before knowingly consuming dairy products.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea and abdominal pain, according to the National Institutes of Heath. Untreated, the condition can lead to long-term adverse health effects by blocking the absorption of calcium and vitamin D.
