Flower Foods, Inc. Has pulled thousands of Nature’s Own Hawaiian Bread loaves from shelves across five southern states after discovering the popular sweet bread contained an undeclared milk allergen.
The parent company of the Nature’s Own brand initiated the voluntary recall after an internal review of production records revealed that milk was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging, according to a recent Food and Drug Administration report. Both 20-ounce single loaves and 40-ounce two-packs of the bread, marketed with a “touch of tropical flavor,” are included in the recall.
Customers with milk allergies or severe milk sensitivity face the greatest risk. The FDA warned that consumption of the affected bread could potentially trigger an allergic reaction in those individuals. No related illnesses or incidents had been reported at the time of the announcement.
The smaller 20-ounce bags carried “best if used by” dates ranging from October 8 through October 18 of this year, with a UPC of 0 72250 91662 2. Specific product codes span multiple production windows: 0188 262 20:06 through 0188 262 22:05; 0188 265 09:20 through 0188 265 10:30; 0188 267 04:50 through 0188 267 06:00; 0188 270 04:15 through 0188 270 06:05; and 0188 272 17:15 through 0188 272 19:25.
Distribution of the recalled 20-ounce loaves reached retail customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The 40-ounce two-packs, which share the same five-state distribution footprint, bear a UPC of 0 72250 00683 5. Flower Foods did not post specific product codes or “best if used by” dates for the larger bread bags.
The FDA advised consumers who purchased the affected products to discard them immediately as a protective measure for those with milk allergies. Alternatively, customers may return the bread to their place of purchase for a full refund.
This bread recall arrives amid a broader wave of nationwide food and beverage safety actions. Earlier this week, PepsiCo recalled approximately 122,000 cases of Gatorade across 37 states after discovering undeclared dyes in the sports drinks.
A separate frozen berry recall also expanded recently. Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. Added a new lot to its late-summer recall after testing found potential contamination with a dangerous strain of E. Coli.
The Hawaiian bread recall specifically highlights ongoing challenges with allergen labeling in packaged foods. Milk ranks among the most common food allergens in the United States, and undeclared milk ingredients have triggered numerous FDA enforcement actions and voluntary recalls across the food industry in recent years.