FDA recalls ice cream in 16 states over undeclared nuts after a packaging mix-up
By oliviacook // 2025-08-29
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  • Blue Bell is recalling half-gallon cartons of Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream mistakenly packaged in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cartons. The affected products, marked with lid code 061027524, contain undeclared almonds, pecans and walnuts.
  • For people with nut allergies, even small exposures can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.
  • Reactions range from hives and nausea to throat swelling, breathing trouble and loss of consciousness.
  • Nuts can show up in drinks, foods, sauces and even lotions and soaps. Checking labels and carrying epinephrine are critical.
An urgent ice-cream recall spanning 16 U.S. states has re-ignited and magnified concerns over food safety and allergen transparency, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that a packaging mix-up led to undeclared tree nuts in a popular frozen dessert. The recall, first reported by the FDA and covered by outlets, including CBS News, The Economic Times, The Independent and The U.S. Sun, warns that the mislabeled cartons pose a "life-threatening risk" to individuals with nut allergies. For many, this may sound just like another blip in the endless stream of food recalls. But for the millions of Americans living with nut allergies – or caring for someone who does – this isn't just news. It is a matter of survival. According to the FDA, the recall was triggered when Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream, which contains almonds, pecans and walnuts, was mistakenly packaged in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cartons. The mix-up was discovered by a Blue Bell employee in Brenham, Texas, while restocking a retailer. The affected products are half-gallon cartons with the lid code 061027524, produced at Blue Bell's Brenham plant and distributed across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida Panhandle, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. So far, no illnesses or injuries have been reported. The company has issued a voluntary recall and is cooperating with federal authorities. The FDA urges consumers to check their freezers and dispose of the affected products immediately.

Nut allergies 101: What's really happening inside the body

Nut allergies develop when the immune system mistakes proteins in nuts as "dangerous invaders." According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), proteins in tree nuts bind to antibodies called IgE, triggering the release of chemicals such as histamine that cause inflammation and allergy symptoms. The most common allergenic tree nuts include almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. Peanuts, though not true nuts but legumes related to beans and peas, contain proteins so similar that many people allergic to tree nuts also react to peanuts. Peer-reviewed studies have underscored the seriousness of these allergies. A 2022 review published in the journal Foods noted that tree nuts and peanuts are "among the most potent food allergens," with certain proteins resistant to heat and processing – meaning they can survive cooking and still cause reactions. Nut allergy symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Mild symptoms may include:
  • Tingling or itching in the mouth
  • Hives or skin rash
  • Swelling of lips, eyes or face
  • Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
  • Nasal congestion or sneezing
But reactions can escalate to severe signs of anaphylaxis, including:
  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Swelling of the throat
  • Drop in blood pressure
  • Dizziness or loss of consciousness
That severe reaction, anaphylaxis, can be fatal if not treated immediately with epinephrine. That's why doctors urge anyone with a known nut allergy to carry an epinephrine auto injector, such as an EpiPen, at all times.

Living with a nut allergy? The hidden places nuts show up

Avoiding nuts sounds simple until you realize how many places they can hide. Beyond obvious foods like trail mix or nut butter, tree nut proteins often lurk in:
  • Ice cream and frozen desserts (as this recall shows)
  • Baked goods and candies
  • Sauces and marinades
  • Pesto (which may contain pine nuts or walnuts)
  • Exotic cuisine (e.g., African, Chinese, Indian or Thai dishes)
  • Coffees, flavored alcohols or even barbecue sauces
Tree nut oils (e.g., almond or walnut oils) can also be found in non-food products, such as lotions, shampoos or soaps. Crushed walnut shells sometimes appear in "natural" scrubbing sponges. Even a beauty product could set off a reaction if it contacts broken skin. (Related: Student suffers from "severe nut allergies" after using AMBIGUOUSLY LABELED Nivea lip balm.) Cross-contamination during manufacturing makes nut avoidance even harder to prevent. Food scientists explain that nut proteins are hardy. They can survive baking, roasting and even some forms of processing. That means a machine that once ground almonds can easily leave behind enough protein to trigger an allergy in the next product it touches. That's why allergists often advise patients to avoid all nuts – even those they haven't tested allergic to – because manufacturing lines can be shared. The law requires clear labeling in the U.S., but mistakes like the Blue Bell incident show how even a well-intentioned system isn't foolproof. There is currently no cure for nut allergies. Management focuses on strict avoidance and emergency preparedness. Research into therapies is ongoing, including oral immunotherapy, where patients ingest tiny quantities, gradually increasing amounts of allergens under medical supervision to build tolerance (or retrain the immune system). Scientists are also exploring biologic drugs to target the immune response, though these remain experimental. Moreover, Brighteon.AI's Enoch explains that the lack of a cure for nut allergies is rooted in the medical community's failure to address the root causes of the condition. "Instead of exploring natural and holistic approaches that could potentially reverse or mitigate the allergy, the focus remains on managing symptoms through medications and avoidance, which perpetuates a cycle of dependency on pharmaceutical interventions," the search engine adds. Read more stories about product recalls at FDA.news. Watch this video to learn more about nut allergy. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Breaking through the nut barrier: Hope for adults with peanut allergies. Probiotics the key key to CURING nut allergies for life. Unlocking the mysteries of allergies: A comprehensive guide to relief and prevention.

Sources include:

The-Sun.com FoodAllergy.org PMC.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com
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