Popsicles Recalled: Milk Exposure Blamed
The company that makes Popsicles, Unilever United States Inc., has announced a voluntary recall of some 20-count boxes of Popsicle brand Orange, Grape and Cherry flavored ice pops, because there’s a possibility they may have been exposed to milk, which is not listed as an ingredient on the box. Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk products who consume these supposedly milk-free frozen treats run the risk of an allergic reaction that could be very serious, to the point of being life-threatening.
The recall is for a limited number of products, which are being sold in paperboard boxes, each containing 20-1.65 FL OZ (48.7 ML) POPS. The boxes have the UPC code 7756712130, and are marked with one of the following “best before” dates: JUN0315GBV, JUN0415GBV, JUN0515GBV and JUN0615GBV. The “best before” dates are printed on the side of the box. Only those “best before” dates have been recalled, and no other Popsicle brand products are affected by this recall. The product was distributed in retail stores nationwide.
So far, Unilever has received one report, in which two people with milk allergies were affected by the use of this product. There is no word as to the age of the victims of the milk allergy, but allergies to cow’s milk are primarily found in infants and young children. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to milk range wildly, from red patches and hives, all the way up to anaphylaxis. Parents with young children who have a milk allergy are generally advised to read food labels carefully, to be sure their child avoids all products with milk or milk ingredients, and to have an EpiPen or something similar handy at all times, just in case. It’s estimated that about 2.5 percent of children younger than three have a milk allergy, which infants will almost always develop during their first year of life.
Anyone who has purchased these Popsicle products should follow the recall, which instructs consumers to throw out the product immediately and send the box in for a replacement coupon. If your child, or anyone else in the home, has a food allergy and has become sick because they consumed a product containing an ingredient not listed on the label, please contact the Texas Food Contamination Injury Lawyer at Hill Law Firm as soon as possible to protect your rights.