Bread Sold in 6 States Recalled Due to Glass Contamination

Glass fragments were found on top of the three bread products made by Upper Crust Crest Hill Bakery.

People shop for bread at a supermarket in Monterey Park, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2022. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

A Glenn Dale, Maryland-based company has voluntarily recalled three types of its frozen bread products that had been distributed across six states.

The loaves were recalled due to glass contamination.

Upper Crust Crest Hill Bakery, also known as Upper Crust Bakery LP, announced on April 12 that it was recalling 89 cases of its 4-ounce Ancient Grains Hoagie Roll (Lot No. 90), 699 cases of its 18-ounce Multigrain Sourdough (Lot no. 90), and 30 cases of its 20-ounce Whole Grain Multigrain product (Lot no. 92), according to an FDA notice.

The enforcement report shows that the products were distributed to retailers or wholesalers in Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, and Ohio.

“Glass contamination can happen at several stages of food production due to equipment breakage, packaging accidents, and inadequate cleanup,” Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University professor, food safety expert, and Alliance for Recall Ready Communities adviser, said in an email to NTD, a sister media outlet of The Epoch Times. “This risk is why food facilities have strict policies called Glass and Brittle Plastic Control Programs—but lapses can still happen.”

Specifically, glass fragments were found on top of the three bread products. Neither the FDA nor the Upper Crust Crest Hill Bakery responded to requests for comment by press time.

The company says on its website that it partially bakes, then freezes, bread and pizza dough made with non-genetically modified ingredients. The products are then sold to wholesalers and food retailers.

The recall was initiated on April 12 and classified as a Class II recall by the FDA on April 25. The weekly enforcement report was published on April 30.

“The gap reflects the time needed for the FDA to review company data, assess risk, and assign a classification,” Detwiler said. “The recall was not enforced late—it was logged into the weekly reporting system after classification.”

The recall was classified as a Class 2 event, which the FDA website describes as the use of or exposure to a violative product, which may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

Class 2 indicates a moderate risk to consumers, Detwiler said, while Class 1 indicates a higher risk level.

“What stands out here is the specific location of the hazard, which was on top of the bread,” he said.

“If this contamination was external and visible, it changes how the risk is perceived. It may also explain the Class II designation rather than a Class I, which is more typical for glass recalls.

“Identifying which lots went to which stores takes time and coordination, and more retail partners means more consumer alerts and more room for error,” Detwiler said. “When recalled products appear under multiple store names, public confusion and brand damage can multiply.”

From NTD News