Galaxy Nutritional Foods Issues Allergy Alert

Galaxy Nutritional Foods Issues Allergy Alert

ORLANDO, Fla.--Galaxy Nutritional Foods, makers of Veggiebrand dairy alternatives, has voluntarily recalled 458 cases of its 6-oz. applepie flavored yogurt because the product may contain trace amounts of milkprotein.

Milk protein contamination was suspected in the veggie product after thecompany received a phone call from one consumer who reported an allergicreaction. This call prompted the company to investigate its productionprocedures, which demonstrated that a milk protein-containing product wasmanufactured prior to the dairy-free Veggie yogurt in the same machine.

When chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) Angelo Morinilearned that contamination might have occurred, he initiated a voluntary recallof the product to prevent any adverse events. We find [contamination] wouldbe almost impossible, but theres always the outside chance that someone madea mistake, Morini said. So we pulled it off the market immediately.

This is the first Galaxy Nutritional Foods (www.galaxyfoods.com)recall in its 35 years in business, according to Morini. He said he did it as aprecaution to protect those people who have allergies to milk protein. I didntwant to take any chances whatsoever, he said.

The company is in the process of testing the suspected batch of products toconfirm whether milk protein actually contaminated the apple pie yogurt, but nodefinitive information is yet available.

The recalled yogurt was distributed through centers in Florida, Connecticut,Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Virginia, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania andthe Dominican Republic. The 6-oz., single-serve, white plastic container has apeelable lid with UPC #0-77172-66765-2 and an expiration date of Nov. 19, 2001,S4R2 stamped on the bottom.

Consumers who have purchased the packages that are part of the recall areurged to dispose of the product, especially if they suffer from milk allergies,and contact the company at (800) 441-9419 with any questions or to request afull refund for their purchases.

In related news, this recall came on the heels of some unsolicited positivepress. NBCs Today Show featured host Ann Curry and her guest,Leslie Bonci of the American Dietetic Association, discussing the healthbenefits of dairy alternatives. The women recommended Galaxys Veggie Slicesin place of traditional dairy products because of their low-fat, high-calciumcontent.