Health officials are warning consumers about potentially dangerous Floria Dried Apricots sold in nearly 20 U.S.
states due to undeclared sulfites, which can cause severe allergic reactions.The FDA has urged people to stop eating
the apricots, produced by Turkana Food Inc., with a listed expiration date of November 2026.
Sulfites are commonly used to preserve food, but they can trigger symptoms like hives, swelling, abdominal pain, and even life-threatening reactions, particularly in people with asthma.
While FDA regulations require labeling of sulfite content when levels exceed 10 parts per million, a routine test by New York’s
agriculture department revealed that Turkana’s apricots lacked this crucial labeling. The affected products, sold in states
including New York, California, Texas, and Florida, have a LOT number of 440090478-15-333 and a UPC of 2539560010.
Though no illnesses have been reported so far, the FDA is advising consumers to return the product for a refund. Turkana Food Inc.
has not yet commented on the recall. Sulfite sensitivity is estimated to affect around 13 million Americans, especially those with asthma,
and symptoms typically appear after ingesting the additive. The FDA banned sulfites in fresh fruits and vegetables back in 1986 due to allergy risks,
but they remain permitted in processed foods as long as they’re disclosed. This warning follows a recent recall involving Texas Pete’s hot sauce,
where Sriracha sauce containing sulfites was accidentally bottled without proper labeling, again posing a risk to allergy sufferers.
