Trader Joe’s Holiday Favorite Almond Kringle Recalled for Undeclared Pecans

Over 3,000 packages of O&H Danish Bakery’s Almond Kringles sold in Trader Joe’s have been recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to undeclared allergens in the form of a pecan filling.

Kringles are a type of flaky, filled Danish pastry smeared with icing.

Kringles can vary widely in regard to the type of filling they contain, but almond kringles are arguably one of the most popular. Traditional kringles are made by layering buttery dough, letting it rest, then filling it and baking into the shape of a ring. The baked kringle is then slathered with a simple icing and is ready to eat. Kringle fillings are wide ranging and can include a variety of fruits and nuts.

Kringles are particularly popular around the holidays, and while usually perfectly safe to eat, those with allergies should carefully check the packaging for the list of ingredients. Unfortunately, when a product is mislabeled, even the ingredients list cannot protect the allergy-prone.

Due to issues in the baking and icing process, some pecan kringles were labeled as almond kringles.

On December 19, 2020, a batch of Trader Joe’s popular holiday pastries were recalled due to a batch of kringles that were labeled as “almond” when they were really filled with pecans. According to the FDA, this error occurred due to a “temporary breakdown in the company’s baking and icing processes”. Luckily, no illnesses have been reported as a result of the pastries, but those with pecan allergies face a significant risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they were to consume one of these mislabeled products. The products in question were packaged in white wax paper and labeled with the batch code #26720 in the top right-hand corner.

Customers who purchased one of these recalled pastries may email Trader Joe’s for a replacement sent to their home.

In response to this recall, Trader Joe’s is offering full refunds for any customers who purchased one of the mislabeled kringles. Alternatively, they are also offering to deliver a properly labeled pastry to your door for customers who send a picture of the product label to TJrecall@ohdanishbakery.com.

Thankfully, this undeclared allergen was discovered sooner rather than later. However, if you or a loved one suffered from any recalled food product or a food product you believe should be recalled, it’s important to reach out to a product liability attorney to discuss your options for physical and financial recovery.