Hummus Recall as Urgent Warning Issued Over Products

A series of Mediterranean-style dips have been recalled from the market amid fears that consumers could suffer a "serious or life-threatening allergic reaction" if they eat them.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publicizing the recall issued by Al Amir Fresh Foods, a firm based in Milwaukie, Oregon, which had shipped its products out to stores across Oregon and Washington.

The company is urgently trying to recall four of its products—two types of hummus, a grilled eggplant dish, and a yogurt dip—after realizing that the dips' label did not fully declare all the ingredients, such as sesame or milk. "People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sesame or milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products," a company spokesperson said on Saturday. However, "no illnesses or deaths have been reported to date," according to the recall notice.

The four Al Amir Fresh Foods products being recalled are 8oz. pots with a "best by" date leading up to and including January 25, which contain:

• Classic Hummus Creamy Garbanzo
• Harissa Spicy Hummus With a Kick
• Baba Ghannooj Grilled Eggplant
• Tzatziki Cucumber Yogurt

The company said: "The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Al Amir hummus labels declare tahini but do not declare sesame and Tzatziki Cucumber Yogurt label declares sour cream & yogurt but does not declare milk."

It was unclear how the labeling error had occurred or how it was discovered; Newsweek has reached out to the firm by email seeking further information and comment.

"Customers who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sesame or milk are urged not to consume these products and dispose of it or return it to their place of purchase for a full refund," the company said.

The FDA, which shared details of the recall on its website, explained that when "a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service."

Recalls are issued if there are concerns that a food product may be harmful in some way, such as when testing reveals that products are infected with potentially deadly bacteria, or amid fears that foods could be contaminated with a foreign object from the manufacturing process. There have been several high-profile recalls lately, for example, an urgent recall was issued just after Thanksgiving when manufacturers discovered their raspberry cookies actually contained hazelnuts instead—a potentially deadly allergen to those allergic to nuts.

Recalls are relatively common across a range of industries and consumers have various rights when an item they've purchased is hit by a recall.