A wave of bread recalls has swept across the United States and Canada, with three major bakery operators pulling products over undeclared allergens and metal contamination. Consumers in Texas and several Canadian provinces are urged to check their pantries for affected brioche, artisan loaves, and Country Harvest bread that may contain hidden milk, soy, hazelnuts, or metal fragments.
The Incidents: A Closer Look
The first recall, issued by The Bakery Group based in Texas, involves specific brioche products after routine testing revealed traces of milk, soy, and Yellow FD&C #5 not listed on the label. For individuals with dairy or soy allergies, even a small bite could trigger anaphylaxis. The company has not disclosed batch sizes or distribution reach, but affected items were sold primarily in Texas grocery chains.
Shortly after, Lewis Bakeries, a St. Louis institution known for artisan breads, recalled an undisclosed volume of product due to undeclared hazelnuts. The company attributed the contamination to cross-contact at a production facility. While no illnesses have been reported, the recall spans multiple Midwest retailers and includes best-by dates in late April.
The most concerning incident originates from Canada, where Wonder Brands Inc., owner of the Country Harvest line, discovered metal fragments in a batch of salt used in baking. The contaminated salt was supplied by a third-party vendor, raising questions about supply-chain oversight. The recall covers products sold in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.