A voluntary recall has been issued for a chicken salad product sold at Wegmans Food Markets after concerns about a potential 'Undeclared Egg Allergen.' The recall affects stores in eight states, where the 'Asian Sesame Salad with Chicken & Asian Dressing' was sold.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall on Friday, explaining that the affected products were distributed in stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.

The recalled salads have UPC codes starting with 2-27306, and they were packed between November 5 and November 8. The products in question have Sell By dates ranging from November 7 to November 10. The FDA noted that 'All product may be returned for a full refund'

Eggs are one of the nine major food allergens outlined in the 2021 Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act, alongside milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts (like almonds, walnuts, and pecans), peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.

The proteins found in egg whites, such as ovomucoid, ovalbumin, and ovotransferrin, are commonly responsible for triggering allergic reactions. However, some individuals are also allergic to proteins in egg yolks. 'Proper labeling of foods helps allergic consumers identify foods or ingredients that they should avoid,' the FDA emphasizes.

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system incorrectly identifies certain proteins in the food as harmful, triggering a series of symptoms. These may appear within minutes and can include skin rashes, tingling sensations in the mouth, swelling of the face, tongue, or lips, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, coughing, dizziness, and throat swelling.

In more severe cases, an allergic reaction can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. Anaphylaxis causes symptoms like difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, a rapid or weak pulse, and in extreme cases, loss of consciousness. The FDA notes that 'Symptoms of anaphylaxis may start out as relatively mild but, if not treated promptly, symptoms can become life-threatening in a short amount of time.'

Recognizing the early signs of anaphylaxis and administering epinephrine—often carried by individuals with severe allergies in the form of an auto-injector such as an EpiPen—can help manage the reaction and prevent it from becoming life-threatening.

Epinephrine works by relaxing the muscles around the airways to ease breathing difficulties, and constricting blood vessels to raise blood pressure to safer levels. The FDA reminds consumers that avoiding known allergens and carefully reading food labels is essential for those with food allergies to prevent potentially dangerous reactions.

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