Urgent Alert: 6 Bread Lots Recalled At Walmart And Kroger In 12 States Over Life-Threatening Undeclared Allergen
The U.S. food supply chain is facing a serious public health alert this July 2025, as a major bakery recall has been issued for a popular artisan-style bread sold in major retail stores across at least 12 states. The recall involves a life-threatening undeclared allergen, specifically hazelnuts, a type of tree nut, which poses a severe risk to consumers with nut allergies or sensitivities.
This situation underscores the critical and ongoing challenges of food safety and allergen control in mass-produced bakery products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has highlighted this as a high-risk event, urging consumers to immediately check their pantries and freezers for the specific lot codes of the affected product, which was available on shelves at both Walmart and Kroger locations.
The Latest Undeclared Allergen Bread Recalls: July 2025
The most immediate and high-risk recall currently active is the one issued by Hartford Bakery, Inc. for its Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf. This recall is classified as a serious public health risk due to the presence of undeclared hazelnuts (a tree nut), which can trigger a severe or even life-threatening allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, in sensitive individuals.
Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf Recall Details
The core of this urgent alert centers on a packaging error. The bags labeled as the Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf may actually contain Lewis Nutty Oat Bread, which includes hazelnuts as a key ingredient, but is not listed on the Artisan Style label. This mislabeling is the direct cause of the undeclared allergen risk.
- Recalling Company: Hartford Bakery, Inc.
- Product Recalled: Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf
- Undeclared Allergen: Hazelnuts (a major tree nut allergen)
- Risk Level: Potential for serious or life-threatening allergic reaction.
- Retailers Affected: Walmart, Kroger, and other major grocery stores.
- Distribution Scope: The product was distributed to at least 12 U.S. states.
How to Identify the Recalled Bread: Specific Lot Codes
Consumers must check the front panel of the Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf packaging for one of the following six specific lot codes. These codes are the only ones implicated in the recall.
- T10 174010206
- T10 174010306
- T10 174010406
- T10 174020206
- T10 174020306
- T10 174020406
If you have purchased a loaf with any of these lot numbers, you should not consume it. The company has instructed customers to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The Broader Crisis: Why Undeclared Allergens Top the Recall List
The Hartford Bakery incident is not an isolated event; it is part of a larger, persistent food safety issue. Undeclared allergens consistently rank as one of the top causes of food recalls in the United States and globally. The consequences of these errors are severe because they directly threaten the health and lives of millions of individuals with food allergies and intolerances.
The FDA's Classification of Allergen Recalls
The FDA classifies recalls based on the severity of the health hazard. The Lewis Bake Shop recall, with its potential for life-threatening reactions from the undeclared hazelnut, likely falls under the most serious category: Class I Recall.
- Class I Recall: This is the most urgent classification. It means there is a "reasonable probability" that using or being exposed to the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. Undeclared major allergens like peanuts, milk, and tree nuts frequently trigger Class I recalls.
- Major Allergens: The "Big Nine" major food allergens—Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts (like hazelnuts), Soy, Wheat, Fish, Crustacean Shellfish, and Sesame—are responsible for the vast majority of severe allergic reactions.
Common Causes of Undeclared Allergens in Bakery Products
How do these dangerous errors happen in a regulated industry? The root causes are often traced back to systemic failures in the manufacturing process, particularly in facilities that handle multiple products.
- Mislabeling/Packaging Errors: As seen with the Lewis Bake Shop recall, the wrong product being placed in the wrong bag is a frequent cause. This is often due to human error on the production line.
- Cross-Contamination: This occurs when a small amount of an allergenic ingredient is unintentionally transferred from one food product to another during processing. In a bakery, using the same equipment for a hazelnut bread and a non-nut bread without adequate cleaning is a prime example.
- Ingredient Changes: A supplier may change an ingredient (e.g., switching to a flour blend that contains milk or soy) without the manufacturer updating the final product label.
- Other Recent Cases: Other recent recalls highlight the variety of allergens involved, including The Bakery Group recalling products for undeclared Milk, Soy, and even the color additive Yellow FD&C #5, and Hillside Orchard Farms recalling fruit breads for undeclared Egg.
Consumer Action Plan: What to Do If You Have Recalled Bread
For individuals with food sensitivities or allergies, especially to tree nuts like hazelnuts, immediate action is essential. The steps are simple but critical to preventing a severe health incident.
1. Do Not Consume the Product
If you have the Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf, or any other recalled bread, immediately check the lot code on the packaging. If it matches one of the six affected codes, do not eat it or serve it to others, even if you do not have a known allergy. The risk of a severe reaction is too high.
2. Secure and Dispose or Return
The safest course of action is to return the product to the store where it was purchased (Walmart, Kroger, etc.) for a full refund. If returning is not possible, securely double-bag the item and dispose of it to ensure no one accidentally consumes it.
3. Monitor for Symptoms
If you or a family member has already consumed the recalled product and has a known nut allergy, be vigilant for symptoms of an allergic reaction. These can include hives, swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or dizziness. If a severe reaction occurs, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
4. Stay Informed on Future Recalls
Consumers should regularly check the official FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts page and reliable food safety news sources. The dynamic nature of the food industry means that new alerts, from undeclared gluten in "gluten-free" products (as seen in the New Grains Gluten Free Bakery recall) to major allergens like milk and soy, are issued frequently.
This latest hazelnut recall serves as a powerful reminder that reading every label and staying informed about current food safety alerts is the most effective defense against accidental allergen exposure.
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