Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Bars Recalled in 31 States Due to Wheat Allergen

Some consumers who are allergic to wheat or have a ’severe sensitivity' face a risk of ‘serious or life-threatening allergic reaction,’ the company said.

An image of the recalled Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate Mini Bars. Courtesy of the FDA

California-based Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc. is recalling a limited number of ice cream bars sold in 31 states because they may contain undeclared wheat, said a company announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 4.

The recalled product, Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate Mini Bars, was sold in 6-count packages via Kroger and Giant Eagle stores. The items have a “Best By” date of Jan. 31, 2027, and carry batch code LLA519501.

Dreyer’s distributed the ice cream bars via Kroger in 29 states—Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The items were sold at Giant Eagle outlets in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

“Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products,” said the announcement, adding that no illnesses or injuries have been reported to date.

“We are recalling this product because it may contain products that contain wheat in packaging that does not reveal the presence of wheat on the label. Although our investigation is ongoing, we believe products containing wheat were repacked into the incorrect packaging at the beginning of a production run.”

The company clarified that no other Haagen-Dazs products or other batches are affected by the recall.

It advised people with wheat sensitivity or allergy who have bought the recalled products not to consume the items and to either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Customers with queries can contact the company at 800-767-0120.

The Epoch Times reached out to Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.

Multiple companies have recalled products over the past months due to undeclared wheat in the items.

On Oct. 1, California-based Doan’s Bakery of Woodland Hills announced the withdrawal of cake products distributed nationwide due to undeclared wheat and milk allergens.

In August, Massachusetts-based Hans Kissle recalled 66 units of potato salad due to undeclared wheat. The items were distributed via Stop and Shop retail locations in five states.

According to a post by the nonprofit Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), wheat allergy may affect up to 1 percent of children in the United States. It noted that one study found that two-thirds of children with a wheat allergy outgrow it by age 12.

“When a person with a wheat allergy is exposed to wheat, proteins in the wheat bind to specific IgE antibodies made by the person’s immune system,“ FARE said. ”This binding triggers the person’s immune defenses, leading to reaction symptoms that can be mild or very severe,” said the group.

“Symptoms of a wheat allergy reaction can range from mild, such as hives, to severe, such as anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions can be unpredictable, and even very small amounts of wheat can cause one.”

Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially fatal allergic reaction.

FARE recommended avoiding foods containing wheat or ingredients such as bread crumbs, cereal extract, cracker meal, durum, semolina, seitan, pasta, wheat grass, and couscous.

Currently, nine foods are identified as major food allergens in the United States—eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame, according to a Sept. 22 update by the FDA.

Food manufacturers are legally obligated to ensure that food labels explicitly mention the allergens present in the products, it said.

Some of the symptoms triggered by the consumption of allergy-sensitive foods include hives, flushed skin, rashes, abdominal cramps, coughing or wheezing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and a tingling sensation in the mouth, the agency said.

“People with a known food allergy who begin experiencing any of these symptoms should stop eating the food immediately, evaluate the need to use emergency medication (such as epinephrine) and seek medical attention,” it advised.