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Payton, USA TODAY
Hartford Bakery is voluntarily recalling hundreds of loaves of one of its artisanal breads because the products may contain undeclared hazelnuts, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said.
Out of an abundance of caution, the company, headquartered in West Hartford, Connecticut, issued a recall for its “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf” on July 10, according to the FDA. The company warns that “people with a nut allergy or severe sensitivity to hazelnuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions” if they consume the bread.
Hartford Bakery said it had removed all products linked to the six affected production lots. The recalled bread was distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin retailers, including Kroger and Walmart, according to the FDA.
The FDA said there had been no major reports of injury or illness related to the recalled bread.
“Hartford Bakery is aware of one customer who experienced digestive discomfort after consumption,” the recall reads. “Hartford Bakery also received consumer complaints from those who saw the nuts before consuming the product.”
What does the recalled artisanal bread look like?
The recalled bread comes in a flexible plastic bag marked with the following information:
- Lot codes T10 174010206, T10 174010306, T10 174010406, T10 174020206, T10 174020306 and T10 174020406 are found on the front panel of the packaging.
- Net Weight 12 ounces (340 grams), UPC 24126018152 found on the bottom of the packaging.
- An expiration date of July 13, 2025, is found on the front panel of the packaging.
How was the undeclared allergen found?
Hartford Bakery initiated the recall after finding that about 883 loaves of bread from six production lots contained visible hazelnuts and were distributed in “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf” packaging.
Although the packaging reads “May Contain Tree Nuts,” it does not say that it “Contains Hazelnuts.” An investigation by the company revealed that an error in packaging led to the allergen being undeclared.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.
