Crispy brand cookies may contain undeclared allergens, warns FDA

Apr 6 2012

FDA warns consumers not to eat Crispy brand cookies and rusk manufactured by TWI Foods Inc., Ontario, CanadaProducts may contain undeclared allergens

Fast Facts• TWI Foods Inc., of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada is voluntarily recalling Crispy brand cookies and rusk, a hard crisp bread.
• The recalled products may contain two of the eight most common allergens, milk and almonds.
• Allergic reactions to food can sometimes cause serious illness and death.
• Consumers should stop using the product if they have allergies to milk or almonds, call their doctor and follow the additional instructions in "What Do Consumers and Others Need To Do" below.

What is the Problem? TWI Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling several varieties of Crispy brand cookies and rusk.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and TWI Foods Inc., are warning people with allergies to milk or almonds not to consume Crispy brand cookie and rusk products. The affected products contain almonds and/or milk which are not clearly declared on the label.

What are the Symptoms of Illness/Injury? Food allergy symptoms typically appear from within minutes to up to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which they are allergic. Allergic reactions can include: hives, 
flushed skin or rash, tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth, face, tongue, or lip swelling,
vomiting and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramps, coughing or wheezing, dizziness and/or lightheadedness, swelling of the throat and vocal cords, difficulty breathing, and/or a drop in blood pressure.

Who is at Risk?Consumers with allergies to milk and/or almonds are at risk. Although most food allergies cause relatively mild and minor symptoms, some food allergies can cause severe reactions, and may even be life-threatening. There is no cure for food allergies.

What Do Consumers Need To Do?  Strict avoidance of food allergens and early recognition and management of allergic reactions to food are important measures to prevent serious health consequences.

Consumers who think they may have become ill from eating cookies or rusk with milk and/or almonds should consult their health care providers.

The following products were shipped to the US:

Where is it Distributed?  
The Canadian-manufactured cookies products were sent to 28 United States distributors in 15 states including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington.

Have There Been Any Illnesses Reported?There have been no illnesses reported at this time.
      
What is Being Done about the Problem? FDA is monitoring the problem in collaboration with the CFIA and public health agencies in those states where the products have been distributed.

Who Should be Contacted?For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. EST, Monday through Friday).

For information on milk and nuts, two of the eight most common food allergens, please click on the link below:http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/foodallergy2011.html