FDA Recalls Gluten-Free Cake and Gives Risk Classification

A gluten-free cake product has been recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after it was discovered to contain wheat and nuts.
The “Mini Raspberry Lemon Coffee Cake”, made by Macrina Bakery of Kent, Washington, has been recalled due to mislabelling of products.
Thirty-eight loaves of the cake have been recalled voluntarily by the bakery after it was found that their “Mini Squash Harvest Loaf” had been labeled as “Mini Raspberry Lemon Coffee Cake”, meaning that it may contain allergens.
The FDA said: “Undeclared walnut and wheat. Mini Squash Harvest Loaf (UPC 8 55324 00505 3) was mis-labeled as Mini Raspberry Lemon Coffee Cake (UPC 8 57297 00745 4) and therefore wheat flour and walnuts are not declared on label.”
The recalled products have a universal product code of UPC 8 57297 00745 4 and a sell-by date of 09/17. Newsweek has contacted Macrina Bakery for comment.
This recall has been assigned a Class II risk level by the FDA. Class II classifications are enforced in “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,” according to the FDA.
Wheat and tree nuts—including walnuts—are amongst the FDA’s list of major food allergens, alongside milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans, soybeans, peanuts, and sesame.
Gluten is a type of protein naturally found in wheat and other related grains like barley and rye. It acts as a binding agent that gives dough its elasticity and helps it rise and maintain its shape. There are several health conditions and reasons why people avoid gluten, including wheat allergies, Celiac disease, and gluten intolerance.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten triggers the immune system to attack the small intestine. Over time, this can lead to damage in the lining of the small intestine, which affects nutrient absorption. Wheat allergies are more of a classical allergic reaction involving the immune system’s production of antibodies.
Walnut allergies are part of the broader category of tree nut allergies, which include allergies to nuts like almonds, cashews, and pecans. A walnut allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies proteins in walnuts as harmful. Upon exposure, the immune system releases chemicals such as histamine, causing allergic symptoms.
“While most symptoms from food allergies are mild and limited to skin or digestive discomfort, some may progress to a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can lead to constricted airways in the lungs; severe lowering of blood pressure and shock (“anaphylactic shock”); suffocation by swelling of the throat and larynx,” the FDA states.
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