A good salsa elevates the flavor of any chip that’s dipped in it. Although most people associate salsa with tomato-based pico de gallo, there are also salsas made from other ingredients, such as tomatillos and chili peppers.
But like any foodstuff composed of different ingredients, commercially sold salsas should have proper allergen labels.
The Frito-Lay company recently issued a recall for its Tostitos Avocado Salsa Jar Dips because the dips may have been incorrectly labeled. While the fronts of the jars correctly identify the dips as Tostitos Avocado Salsa, the back part of the label contains nutritional information from another product. The information on the mislabeled jars also lacks milk allergen information when the dip has dairy ingredients.
No allergic reactions related to the error have been reported as of June 21, and no other Tostitos products have been recalled. Frito-Lay warned that customers may have bought the mislabeled salsa as early as April 05.
The dangers of milk allergy
Frito-Lay’s labeling error may not sound like much at first, but the lack of milk allergy information could be dangerous and fatal for some customers. Milk allergy symptoms include:
- Coughing or shortness of breath
- Hives
- Itchiness around the mouth
- Swelling of the lips, throat and tongue
Aside from these symptoms, milk allergy can also lead to anaphylaxis. When an allergic person undergoes anaphylaxis, their blood pressure drops suddenly, their body enters shock and their airways swell and constrict, preventing breathing. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead to death. According to Mayo Clinic, milk is the third most common food to cause anaphylaxis, behind peanuts and tree nuts.
Suing for allergen misinformation
If you are a customer who suffered a severe allergic reaction to a mislabeled food product, like Frito-Lay’s salsa, you could sue the food manufacturer for marketing defects. To establish the manufacturer’s legal fault, you will need the testimonies of experts such as the doctor who treated your allergic reaction.
However, the food manufacturer could challenge your lawsuit in court with its legal team. If your case comes to this point, consider hiring an attorney to coordinate your defense and ensure you receive adequate compensation for the damages you suffered.
