(RTTNews) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for Costco’s ready-to-serve or RTE Kirkland Signature chicken tortilla soup product, citing misbranding. The label states that the product, manufactured by Kettle Cuisine Midco, LLC, is gluten-free, which is a false negative claim.
The affected product is 2 lbs. tubs containing “KIRKLAND Signature CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP WITH WHITE CHICKEN MEAT” with “USE BY: 11/23/23” and lot code 1394066.
On September 9, food manufacturer Kettle Cuisine had notified Costco that its Kirkland Signature brand Chicken Tortilla Soup with the same lot code had been recalled citing undeclared gluten.
The FSIS has now issued the warning to ensure that consumers with reactions to gluten are aware that these products should not be consumed. The agency has not initiated a recall because the affected products are no longer available for sale.
The FSIS action follows the company’s report that laboratory testing found gluten in its chicken tortilla soup, which is labeled as gluten-free.
However, to date, there have been no confirmed reports of side effects resulting from the consumption of these products.
The ready-to-eat chicken tortilla soup items, with location number “P-18468” within the USDA mark of approval, were produced on July 26. These items were shipped to retail locations in Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
Due to concerns that some products could be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers, the agency urged them to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
In similar incidents, FSIS issued a warning in early August about certain ready-to-eat or RTE salads and wraps containing meat and poultry due to concerns about potentially contaminated lettuce with deer feces.
The agency also issued a public health warning against certain raw beef products sold in select Aldi stores, citing possible contamination with foreign material, particularly soft, clear plastic.
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