Bimbo Bakeries USA, a Mexico City-based food giant with brands such as Sara Lee, Oroweat, Thomas’,‗ Entenmann’s and Ball Park buns and rolls, has been warned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for mislabeling some of their products with allergens that were not present. The FDA inspectors found discrepancies between listed ingredients and actual contents in various products, including those mentioned above.
Under FDA regulations, such products are considered “misbranded.” The warning followed inspections late last year at Bimbo plants in Phoenix, Arizona, and Topeka, Kansas that make Sara Lee and Brownberry breads. The FDA officials indicated that allergen labeling is a “not a substitute” for preventing cross-contamination in factories.
Advocates with the nonprofit group FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), said such labeling “does a disservice” to the estimated 33 million people in the U.S. with food allergies. Those consumers have to be constantly aware of foods that can cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, said Sung Poblete, FARE’s chief executive.
Bimbo Bakeries USA was warned for producing misbranded food items due to false allergen labeling under FDA regulations. The company bills its U.S. operations as the largest commercial baking company in the country and has promised to correspond with FDA to resolve the issue.
Concerns over labels at Bimbo and other companies followed a law that took effect in 2022, which added sesame to the list of major allergens that must be listed on packaging. The FDA officials acknowledged Tuesday that statements that a product “may contain” certain allergens “could be considered truthful and not misleading.
Bimbo officials have until July 8 to identify steps taken to remedy the issue or to explain why the labeling doesn't violate FDA standards.
