Peanut allergies affect about 2% of U.S. residents, and that number is only growing. In July, this population was put at risk when a food product didn’t disclose the allergen. Unsuspecting shoppers may have bought accidentally Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches since the box claimed they were cheese crackers. On July 8, Mondelēz Global LLC announced a voluntary recall of the products, and the FDA published a warning to consumers.
Ritz Crackers Recalled Over Undisclosed Allergen
The recall involved “four carton sizes of RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches (8-pack, 20-pack, and 40-pack cartons of Ritz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches, as well as the 20-pack Ritz Filled Cracker Sandwich Variety Pack carton),” according to Mondelēz Global LLC’s announcement posted on the FDA’s website. These cartons may include individually wrapped packs of crackers that are peanut butter flavored instead of cheese. “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts may risk serious or life-threatening allergic reactions by consuming this product,” it read. Here’s how to check if you have the recalled crackers in your pantry right now.
8 Pack Ritz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches
- 11.4 oz. carton
- 8 Count (8 x 1.38-oz. 6-pack carton)
- Retail UPC0: 44000 88210 5
- Best-by dates: 1 NOV 25–9 NOV 25
- Plant Code: AE
20 Pack Ritz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches
- 27.6 oz. carton
- 20 Count (20 x 1.38-oz. 6-pack carton)
- Retail UPC0: 0 44000 07584 2
- Best-by dates: 1 NOV 25–9 NOV 25 and 2 JAN 26–22 JAN 26
- Plant Code: AE
40 Pack Ritz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches
- 55.2 oz. carton
- 40 Count (40 x 1.38-oz. 6-pack carton)
- Retail UPC0: 0 44000 07819 5
- Best-by dates: 1 NOV 2025–9 NOV 2025 and 2 JAN 2026–22 JAN 2026
- Plant Code: AM
20 Count Variety Pack – Ritz Filled Cracker Sandwich
- 27.3 oz. carton
- 20-Count Variety Pack (20 packs of 10 Cheese 1.38-oz. Packs and 10 Peanut Butter 1.38-oz. packs)
- Retail UPC0: 0 44000 08095 2
- Best-by dates: 2 NOV 25–9 NOV 25
- Plant Code: RJ
No Reported Injuries or Illnesses
People who have peanut allergies should not consume these products. However, they are safe for other consumers to enjoy. No other Ritz crackers were affected by this recall, including Ritz cheese cracker sandwiches and cartons with different dates than the ones reported above. Fortunately, there were no reports of injury or illnesses as a result of the mislabeling, as confirmed by the FDA and Mondelēz Global LLC. “Corrective actions are being taken to help ensure this issue does not recur,” concluded the report.
More About Peanut Allergies
Research shows that people with peanut allergies tend to have higher risk of accidental exposure than other allergies, and mislabeling may be one reason why. In fact, about 7%–14% of Americans with this allergy have accidental peanut exposure every year. This is scary considering that peanut allergies usually begin in childhood, and they commonly include anaphylaxis, which is a condition where an allergic reaction quickly becomes deadly.
Symptoms of Peanut Allergies
Signs of anaphylaxis include trouble breathing, plummeted blood pressure, throat swelling, dizziness, rapid pulse, and fainting, according to the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. This reaction must be treated immediately with epinephrine and medical attention. If you suspect you have an allergist, see an allergist for testing. Symptoms of an allergy (without anaphylaxis) can include the following:
- Confusion
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Hives
- Indigestion
- Pale/blue-tinged skin
- Runny nose
- Stomach cramps
- Swelling around the mouth
- Throat tightening
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
Another Recent Recall
Ritz crackers aren’t the only products recently recalled for undeclared allergens. On August 10th, the FDA published an announcement from Neuhaus Chocolates NV. Their product, Belgian Chocolate Moments Smurfs Popping Milk Chocolates with Cookies, didn’t include an allergy warning for wheat. Only 150 units of these faulty packages were sold, and no issues or illnesses have been reported. If you’ve bought this item, look out for batch number 80108690 (best-by date 13/01/2026) and batch number 80108763 (13/01/2026).
Read More: Butter Recall Hits Over 64,000 Pounds Across the Country