A production error at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has led to a nationwide recall of its Passion Fruit Dreamsicle bars, announced November 18 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Columbus, Ohio-based company disclosed that a separate product’s crunch topping containing wheat and soy was mistakenly added during manufacturing. Because the packaging did not reflect this change, the batch was found to be mislabeled.
Although no illnesses have been reported, the affected product (batch code 25-210) remains a risk to individuals with wheat or soy allergies. According to the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), the labeling error could result in anaphylactic reactions if consumed by allergy-sensitive individuals. The agency emphasized the importance of accurate allergen labeling, noting that undeclared ingredients remain the most frequent cause of high-risk food recalls in the United States.
How a Single Packaging Error Caused a Public Health Risk
According to the FDA notice, the incident occurred when a crunch topping used for a different product was inadvertently introduced during the manufacturing process of the Passion Fruit Dreamsicle bars. The topping included wheat and soy proteins, both of which are allergens subject to federal labeling laws under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA).
The law, enacted in 2004, requires food manufacturers to declare major allergens on their packaging. According to findings cited in FALCPA, approximately two percent of adults and five percent of children in the U.S. suffer from food allergies. Despite this mandate, labeling mistakes still account for the majority of allergen recalls, particularly when packaging lines fail to catch ingredient swaps or mix-ups. A federal analysis of FDA recall records between 2013 and 2019 found that over 71 percent of allergen-related recalls stemmed from labeling-associated errors.
Jeni’s explained the error in its official notice: “The recall was initiated after a crunch topping from a separate product was inadvertently introduced to this particular batch… during manufacturing.” Because the labels remained unchanged, there was no visible warning for those at risk.
Gaps in Allergen Controls Remain a Recurring Challenge
The FDA and its food safety teams continue to investigate how such labeling failures can be prevented. According to agency records, undeclared allergens have remained the top reason for high-risk food recalls for at least three consecutive years. These cases are not limited to small producers and often affect well-known brands, indicating systemic issues in food production protocols.
Efforts to prevent these types of cross-contact errors include separating recipe production lines, conducting extensive cleaning of equipment, and verifying that the correct packaging is used with each batch. According to CFSAN staff, even one missed step in this process can result in unintended allergens reaching consumers’ homes.
Consumers are urged to check the top of the product carton for the batch code 25-210. Jeni’s has asked customers to return the recalled product for a full refund and avoid attempting to taste it, even in small amounts. The company has made a support line available at 614-488-3224 and can also be reached via email at [email protected].
As the food industry continues to manage allergen risks, the recall serves as a reminder of the small margin for error in labeling, where one overlooked detail can become a medical emergency for the wrong consumer.
