Dessert Recall Update for Seven States as FDA Sets Risk Level

The Lithuanian Bakery Inc. has voluntarily recalled two of its desserts after they were found to contain undeclared allergens and sulfites. The bakery distributed its desserts to stores in several states, including Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota, shown on the map below. Newsweek has contacted Lithuanian Bakery Inc. via email for comment. Why It Matters The classification of the recall by the FDA suggests that there is a high level of risk associated with the situation, given that the undeclared allergens could pose a serious health risk to those who are allergic. What To Know The update shared by the FDA revealed that Lithuanian Bakery Inc., based in Nebraska, initiated the recall on November 1, 2024. The bakery recalled its Chocolate and Raspberry Napoleonas Tortes as the following allergens and sulfites were not declared on the final products: milk, soy, peanut, and wheat, and the sulfites, yellow 5, yellow 6 and red 40. The Food and Drug Administration classified the recall of the Chocolate and Raspberry Napoleonas Tortes on December 30 as a class II, after initially identifying them as class I. A Class I recall is described on the FDA website as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.” A Class II recall is described as “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” It is required by law for food labels to identify all major food allergens used to make the food, which includes soybeans, sesame, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean seafood, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat. The FDA shared that there are 120 packages of the bakery’s Napoleonas Torte that are affected by the recall. The bakery was set up in 1962 by the Lithuanian immigrants Vytautas Mackevicius and his wife Stefanija. The company is now managed by their three sons: Algird, Alfonsas and Vytas Mackevicius. What People Are Saying Michelle Anstey, manager of regulatory affairs for North America at the National Sanitation Foundation, previously told Newsweek: “If you become ill or have an allergic reaction after consuming a food product, you have the right to report the incident to your local health authority. “Some consumers can seek recourse if they experience a reaction due to undeclared allergens or misleading food labels.” What’s Next The food recall is still active in all of the seven listed states. The FDA advises that if you have a known food allergy and start having symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop eating the food immediately, evaluate the need for emergency treatment and seek medical attention. Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.