If you’re allergic to shellfish and shop at Costco, check the label on the ravioli in your fridge or freezer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert thisweek “for ravioli pasta products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the alert.
Which products are included in the alert?
The public health alert includes 32 oz plastic bag packages containing “Giovanni Rana RANA Rustic Beef Sauce & Creamy Burrata Cheese Ravioli” with use-by dates from May 14 to June 25. These items were produced between March 10 and April 21, and were on shelves at Costco stores in New Jersey and Maryland.
Inside the USDA mark of inspection, the affected products have the establishment number “Est. 44870.”
Why is there a public health alert?
Instead of beef and cheese, some of the ravioli actually have a shrimp filling with a lobster sauce. Officials discovered the problem when two customers reported that the wrong type of ravioli was inside the bag.
Since shellfish is not declared on the product label, this is a hazard for people who are allergic to shellfish. Fortunately, there have been no reports of allergic reactions.
The affected product is no longer available for purchase, so there is no recall being issued.
What you should do if you bought the ravioli
The FSIS urged consumers to throw away the product or return it to the store if it’s still in their fridge or freezer.
If you have a shellfish allergy, do not consume the product. If you already ate the ravioli, “anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a health care provider,” according to the FSIS.
