Popular tortilla strips recalled due to undeclared wheat allergen

The food company known for its popular grocery store condiments has recalled a package of tortilla strips that may be contaminated with wheat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The product is intended to be gluten free.

Sugar Foods, a manufacturing and distribution corporation specializing primarily in a variety of toppings, artificial sweeteners and snack foods, announced a recall of the Santa Fe Style version of tortilla strips sold by the Fresh Gourmet brand.

“People who have a wheat allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat are at risk of having a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product,” Sugar Foods said in a statement released by the FDA.

Packages of these tortilla strips with a best before date of June 20, 2025 may contain undeclared wheat, meaning the allergen is not listed as an ingredient on the label. Fresh Gourmet is marketed as gluten-free.

Sugar Foods said a customer informed the company on Nov. 19 that the packages of tortilla strips actually contained crispy onions, another Fresh Gourmet product that is typically sold in similar packaging. This brand’s crispy onion product does contain wheat, and this allergen is listed on the label.

No illnesses related to the packaging error have been reported, Sugar Foods said. However, the company is still recalling the tortilla strips as a precaution. The contamination issue may have affected products distributed between September 30 and November 11 in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York. Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

Sugar Foods advised anyone with questions about the recall to contact the company’s consumer protection department by email or phone.

CBS News reached out to Sugar Foods for more information but did not receive an immediate response.

This is the latest in a series of food recalls caused by contamination issues, although others have involved harmful bacteria. Some recent high-profile incidents include E. coli outbreak from organic carrots that killed at least one person in California, and listeria outbreak It killed an infant in California and hospitalized nine people in four different states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The E. coli outbreak was linked to several different food brands, and the listeria outbreak was linked to a line of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold by Yu-Shang Foods.

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