Dive Brief:
- Minnesota-based Swanson Meats is recalling just over 20,000 pounds of beef products due to misbranding, USDA announced last week.
- Certain 20-pound cases of Swanson's Marinated Boneless Beef Tender Tips contain, but were not labeled with soybean oil, MSG, and papain, a meat tenderizer. Soy is commonly known as an allergen, and people who are sensitive to MSG could experience allergy-type reactions.
- USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service discovered the mislabeling during routine inspections. FSIS nor the company have received reports from consumers experiencing adverse reactions due to consumption of the product.
Dive Insight:
Soy is one of eight foods that cause 90% of food-allergic reactions in the U.S., according to Food Allergy Research & Education. Not labeling soy in a food or beverage product could result in serious reactions from consumers with soy allergies, which can be a major liability.
To avoid alienating consumers with certain food allergies, some companies are exploring the $12 billion free-from foods industry, which includes products that are free from allergens like soy, milk, eggs, and peanuts. One such company, Enjoy Life Snacks, was acquired earlier this year by Mondelez International.
While flavor was a drawback for free-from foods for some time, several companies use dairy alternatives, egg substitutes, and other alternative ingredients that produce appealing flavors as well as functionality. These innovations are aiding the growth of the free-from industry.