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The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for three frozen Betterballen products because their labels do not declare sesame; the beef product also contains undeclared anchovy. No adverse reactions have been confirmed, and FSIS says the products are no longer available for purchase, so it did not request a recall. Consumers who have them should not eat them and should discard or return them.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for three frozen Betterballen meat and poultry products because their labels do not list sesame, a known allergen. The beef product also contains anchovy, a fish allergen, that is missing from its label. FSIS advises anyone who bought the products not to eat them.
The alert covers clear, vacuum-packed packages of Bami Rolls, Saté Kroketten and Bitterballen. All have a “BEST BY” date of October 2027. The 6-piece Bami Rolls carry lot codes BR-2026-01 and BR-2026-02; the 10-piece Saté Kroketten have lot code SK-1026-01; and the 12-piece Bitterballen have lot code BB-1026-01.
FSIS said the products were made on October 15, October 16 and October 27. The packages show establishment number EST. M3177 or EST. P3177 inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were sold online nationwide by Lowlands House and may also have been sold at a festival and farmers market in Greer, South Carolina.
The agency said it did not request a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase. That does not rule out packages still being kept at home: FSIS said some may remain in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Its advice is to throw the products away or return them to the place of purchase.
Allergen Labels Affect Consumer Safety
For people with an allergy or sensitivity to sesame, eating a product that does not disclose the ingredient can pose a health risk. The beef item has an additional labeling concern: its Worcestershire sauce contains anchovy, a fish allergen that is also absent from the label. Consumers relying on package information to avoid these allergens may not know they are present.
The alert also matters because the products were distributed through online sales nationwide, with possible in-person sales in Greer. Although FSIS says they are no longer being sold, packages may remain in household freezers. The agency’s advice applies to anyone who has one of the listed products, not only people who have an allergy: do not eat it, and discard it or return it.
FSIS reported no confirmed adverse reactions linked to consumption of these products. That status does not establish that the products are safe for people with allergies; it means the agency had no confirmed reports when the alert was issued. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a health care provider.
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How the Labeling Issue Was Found
FSIS said the issue was discovered during a routine label review. The review identified undeclared sesame in the Betterballen products and undeclared anchovy in the beef product’s Worcestershire sauce. The alert concerns misbranding and undeclared allergens, rather than a reported illness outbreak.
The products are described as frozen and not ready to eat. Their package descriptions, piece counts, best-by date, lot codes and establishment numbers help consumers identify whether a product is covered. The source report does not give a separate product-by-product mapping of which production date corresponds to each lot code, so shoppers should use the listed identifiers rather than infer a date from the lot number.
“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume these products.”
— U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
Packages May Still Be at Home
It is not clear how many packages were produced or sold, how many remain with consumers, or whether all possible retail sales in Greer have been identified. The report does not provide a count of affected packages or a separate distribution breakdown for each product. FSIS has said only that the products are no longer available for purchase and that some may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.
The agency reported no confirmed reactions, but the alert does not specify whether any unconfirmed complaints were received. It also does not report whether further label corrections or other actions are planned. Consumers can identify covered products by the product names, lot codes, October 2027 best-by date and establishment numbers listed in the alert.
Check Packages and Follow Agency Advice
Consumers should check frozen Betterballen products against the alert’s names and identifiers. If a package matches, do not eat it; throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. Anyone who believes they have had an allergic reaction should contact a health care provider, as FSIS advises.
The source report does not state a date for further agency updates or describe a planned follow-up. FSIS’s current public guidance is to avoid the listed products. Consumers who cannot determine whether their package is covered should consult the agency’s alert or contact the seller for product-identification help.
Key Questions
Which Betterballen products are covered by the alert?
The alert names 6-piece Bami Rolls (lot codes BR-2026-01 and BR-2026-02), 10-piece Saté Kroketten (SK-1026-01), and 12-piece Bitterballen (BB-1026-01). The packages have an October 2027 best-by date and show establishment number EST. M3177 or EST. P3177 inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Which allergens are missing from the labels?
Sesame is undeclared on the products covered by the alert. The beef product also contains Worcestershire sauce with anchovy, a fish allergen, that is not listed on its label.
What should I do if I have one of these products?
Do not eat it. FSIS advises consumers to throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.
Has anyone reported an allergic reaction?
FSIS said there were no confirmed reports of adverse reactions at the time of the alert. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a health care provider.
Why was there an alert but no recall?
FSIS said it did not request a recall because the products were no longer available for purchase. The agency still warned consumers because some packages may remain in home refrigerators or freezers.
Source: foodsafetynews.com
