According to News Week, Salsa products produced by Miami-based Glaser Farm Foods have been recalled due to potential contamination with glass fragments. This recall, initiated on October 15, affects pots of All Raw Vegan Certified Organic Salsa, which have now been classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Class II risk.
Understanding Class II Recall
According to the FDA, a Class II recall signifies “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.” The recalled containers weigh 8 ounces and are identifiable by the UPC code 832910 001514, lot code 0110092451, and a best-by date of October 24, 2024. These products were distributed and sold exclusively in Florida.
Recent Trends in FDA Recalls
This recall follows a series of other FDA recalls linked to foreign object contamination, including glass, metal, plastic, and bone in food and medical products. In August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service recalled over 167,000 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken due to metal fragment contamination. Similarly, potato salad containers were recalled for the presence of hard plastics, which also received a Class II risk designation from the FDA.
Risks of Foreign Objects in Food
The FDA warns that “hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury, including laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach, and intestine, as well as damage to teeth and gums.” However, it notes that foreign objects such as plastic, bone, or metal smaller than 7mm “rarely cause trauma or serious injury, except in special risk groups such as infants, surgery patients, and the elderly.”
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According to regulatory compliance firm Traceone, foreign objects in food items—including small pieces of plastic or metal—accounted for 11.6 percent of food recalls issued between 2020 and 2024. The company also observed a significant increase in the number of recalls per year, rising from 454 in 2020 to 547 in 2023, representing a more than 20 percent jump.
Classifications of FDA Recalls
When the FDA issues a recall, it utilizes risk classifications to determine the severity of the risk posed to the public. A Class II recall falls between Class I, the most serious classification, and Class III, the least serious. A Class I recall indicates a “reasonable probability” that exposure to a product could result in serious adverse health consequences or death. Conversely, a Class III designation applies to situations where use or exposure to a violative product is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences.
Consumers who may have purchased the recalled salsa products are advised to check their pantry and dispose of the affected containers to ensure their safety.