Cookies recall update as FDA sets highest risk level

More than 10,000 packages of cookies have been recalled after they were found to contain an undeclared allergen.

In September, Hawaii-based KTM Services recalled its 5.3 ounce and 17.7 ounce packages Enjoy Premium Coconut Cookies due to the presence of milk, a major allergen that was not declared on the product label. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the recall its highest risk classification.

A Class I recall, the highest risk level, is issued when there is a “reasonable probability” that the use of or exposure to a product could “cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

According to the FDA, impacted products have best by dates ranging from September 12, 2024 to August 8, 2024. The products were sold in retail stores in Hawaii, Guam, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as online.

In total, 9,734 units of the 5.3 oz. Coconut Cookies and 1,275 of the 17.7 oz. Coconut Cookies packages are subject to the recall.

Newsweek has contacted KTM Services via email for comment outside of regular working hours.

Milk is one of nine major allergens designated by the FDA, with the other eight being soybeans, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and sesame. They must be declared on all food packaging, with the government agency warning that consumption by those with allergies “run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction.”

According to the FDA, food-allergy reactions can lead to hives, rashes, swelling, vomiting and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and coughing or wheezing.

More serious signs of an allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, can include swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. The FDA warns that “symptoms of anaphylaxis may start out as relatively mild but, if not treated promptly, symptoms can become life-threatening in a short amount of time.”

Anyone who believes they are having a serious allergic reaction should contact their healthcare provider immediately or dial 911.

According to the original statement of recall issued on September 19 by the FDA, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the KTM Services product.

If you do fall ill due to an undeclared allergen, there are several steps you can take, explains Dr. Darin Detwiler, professor of food policy and corporate social responsibility at Northeastern University.

“First and foremost, get medical help to address your symptoms and ensure your health and safety,” he told Newsweek, before taking steps to “notify the FDA and local health departments about your illness or allergic reaction,” which can “help prevent others from getting sick.”

He also advises keeping hold of the packaging and any remaining product, “as this can be important for any investigation and potential legal action.”