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These 4 Recalled Grocery Items May Be Lurking in Your Kitchen

Check your pantry, because these items have use by dates into next year.
FACT CHECKED BY Joseph Neese

Before you start to cook your next big holiday feast, don't forget to check the ingredients in your pantry to make sure they're OK to use. Unfortunately, several groceries have already been recalled this month, and we rounded up the latest four that you should know about.

Though supermarkets pull affected products from stores shelves after they've been recalled, they could have already found their way into your kitchen. To keep your family safe, be sure to check for these impacted items ASAP.

Related: Grocery Recalls Are Hitting an All-Time High—Here's Why

20+ types of Kroger Bakery items

Grocery store pastries

More than 20 types of Country Oven-branded cakes, cinnamon rolls, and other treats were included in this massive Class II recall at America's largest grocery chain Kroger because they may contain "possible metal fragments." According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a Class II recall is classified as "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences."

The bakery items were also sold in nearly 30 states. They have "use by" dates ranging from 12/28/21 to 04/06/2022, meaning they might still be sitting in your home pantry.

Howling Cow Butter Almond Ice Cream Pints

Howling Cow Butter Almond Ice Cream Pints
Courtesy of the FDA

More than 8,000 pints of Howling Cow Butter Almond Ice Cream that were sold in Harris Teeter stores in North and South Carolina were recently recalled because of undeclared soy and wheat. Thankfully, no illnesses have been reported at this time.

The pints were created on Sept. 15, 2021, and they have a "sell by" date of Sept. 15, 2022, as well as a UPC code of 74336 65079 6. Anyone with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or wheat could have a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. If you have one of the pints in your freezer, return it to your point of purchase for a full refund.

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Bokhary Foods Inc. Godavari Dried Apricots

Bokhary Foods Inc. Godavari Dried Apricots
Courtesy of the FDA

These dried apricots were also recalled because they may contain undeclared sulfites, Bokhary Foods Inc. said in an announcement posted by the FDA. The fruit pieces were distributed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York between July 10 and Nov. 24, 2021. Anyone who is allergic to sulfites and eats these fruit pieces could have a severe allergic reaction.

"The recall was initiated after routine sampling at retail by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets revealed the presence of sulfites in the 14-oz. packages of GODAVARI brand dried apricots, which were not declared on the label," the notice said.

No illnesses related to this recall have been reported, and the bags in question come in either 7- or 14-oz. bags with UPC codes of either 0 03658 50001 4 or 0 36575001 5.

Alexander & Hornung Ham and Pepperoni

smoked ham
Shutterstock

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently alerted grocery shoppers to a recall of more than 234,000 pounds of processed meat due to the possibility of listeria contamination. The 17 ham and pepperoni products were shipped nationwide under brand names such as Alexander & Hornung, Big Y, Butcher Boy, Five Star, Food Club, Garrett Valley Farms, Niman Ranch, Open Nature, and Wellshire Wood.

The "sell by" dates on the meat products range from December 2021 to May 2022. Thus, FSIS expressed concerns that "some products may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them" or return them to the point of purchase.

Listeria is a harmful bacteria that can cause symptoms like confusion, fever, muscle aches, and stiff neck. Severe cases can occur in the elderly, individuals with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Thus far, no illnesses related to this meat recall have been reported.

For more on what's happening at the grocery store in your neighborhood, check out:

Amanda McDonald
Amanda has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in digital journalism from Loyola University Chicago. Read more about Amanda