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Four states have issued an urgent recall of potato chips due to possible severe health risks.
Over 2,000 packages of J. Higgs Potato Chip Mix, manufactured by Saratoga Potato Chips LLC based in Indiana, have been removed from stores because of unlisted milk content that wasn’t indicated on the packaging.
The secret component presents a significant risk to the millions of Americans who suffer from milk allergies, causing reactions that vary from minor issues such as hives and swelling to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening situation that may lead to breathing difficulties.
The FDA has classified the recallclassified as Class II, indicating that the chips may cause health effects that can be reversed medically, although no cases of illness have been reported so far.
The impacted 1-ounce snack packages were delivered inMaryland, Kentucky, Florida, and Indiana, with an expiration date of October 5, 2025, and UPC 0-51933-37327-3.
Although the recall announcement did not mention which stores sold the chips, they are typically available at Save-A-Lot andWalmart.
Individuals who are allergic to milk are advised to stop using the product right away and reach out to the company if they have bought any of the affected packages.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated on its website: ‘Individuals with food allergies are advised to check labels and steer clear of the foods they are allergic to. The legislation mandates that food labels specify the origin of all primary food allergens utilized in the production of the product.’
Milk may trigger serious responses in 30 to 50 million Americans who have lactose intolerance and in 7 million individuals with dairy allergies.
Individuals with lactose intolerance face difficulty in breaking down lactose, which is a type of sugar present in milk and various dairy items.
This happens because their bodies generate insufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which is essential for digesting lactose.
Undigested lactose moves to the intestines and is broken down by bacteria, causing gastrointestinal discomfort.
Common signs typically appear between 30 minutes and two hours after ingesting a dairy item, and may consist of diarrhea, feeling sick, throwing up, abdominal pain, swelling, and flatulence.
Furthermore, approximately two percent of Americans – 6.6 million people – have an allergy to milk.
Common signs of an allergic reaction are rashes, wheezing, coughing, nasal blockage, facial and throat swelling, and in extreme situations, anaphylactic shock.
This is a severe allergic response that happens rapidly following contact with an allergen.
It causes a severe immune reaction, resulting in dizziness, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and nausea.
If not addressed promptly using epinephrine (adrenaline), which can be delivered through an injection such as an EpiPen or a nasal spray, an individual may pass away.
Consumers who bought the impacted items are advised not to eat them if they have a dairy allergy.
Snack giant Frito-Lay approximately 1,300 bags of Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips were recalled in March as well because of cross-contamination with milk.
The chips were delivered to stores in 13 states, such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Thirteen-ounce packages of yellow corn chips might also include a different type, namely nacho cheese tortilla chips, which contain dairy.
Individuals who are allergic to milk should steer clear of packages labeled with the ‘Guaranteed Fresh’ date of 20 MAY 2025 and any of these production codes: 471106504 18 13:XX ; 471106505 85 13:XX ; 471106506 85 13:XX ; 471106507 85 13:XX.
Frito-Lay mentioned in a statement: ‘Individuals who have an allergy or significant sensitivity to milk’face the possibility of a severe or life-threatening allergic reactionif they ingest the affected product.
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