Salsa Recall Alert: Products May Contain Glass Fragments

According to News Week, Salsa products produced by Miami-based Glaser Farm Foods have been recalled following concerns that they may contain fragments of glass. The recall, which was initiated on October 15, involves pots of All Raw Vegan Certified Organic Salsa, now classified as a Class II risk by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA Class II Recall Definition

According to the FDA, a Class II recall indicates “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.”

Details of the Recall

The recall affects 202 containers of the salsa, each weighing 8 ounces. The affected products bear the following identifiers:

• UPC Code: 832910 001514
• Lot Code: 0110092451
• Best-By Date: October 24, 2024

These products were distributed and sold exclusively in Florida.

Recent Trends in Food Recalls

This recall is part of a broader trend involving recent FDA recalls due to foreign objects found 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. That same month, potato salad was recalled because of hard plastic contamination, also classified as a Class II risk by the FDA.

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Health Risks of Foreign Objects in Food

The FDA has warned that “hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury,” including lacerations and perforations of tissues in the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach, and intestines, as well as damage to teeth and gums. However, foreign objects like plastic, bone, or metal smaller than 7mm “rarely cause trauma or serious injury” except in vulnerable populations, such as infants, surgery patients, and the elderly.

Increase in Food Recalls

A report from regulatory compliance company Traceone indicates that the presence of foreign objects, including small pieces of plastic or metal, accounted for 11.6% of food recalls from 2020 to 2024. The number of recalls has risen annually, increasing from 454 in 2020 to 547 in 2023, representing a jump of over 20%.

Understanding Recall Classifications

When the FDA issues a recall, it uses risk classifications to convey the severity of the risk to public health. A Class II recall falls between Class I, the most serious, and Class III, the least serious.

• Class I Recall: There is a “reasonable probability” that the use of or exposure to a product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
• Class III Recall: The use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.

Consumers are advised to check their products against the recall information and to dispose of any affected items to ensure safety.