Labor Day is just around the corner, which means that millions of Americans will be stocking up on burger patties, sausages, bags of chips, patriotic desserts, crisp lagers, and sparklers. But if you already purchased some hot dog and hamburger buns for the holiday, you may want to check the label. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Hostess Cake has issued a voluntary recall of their Soft White Hamburger Buns and Soft White Hot Dog Buns, as they may be contaminated with salmonella and listeria, two different forms of bacteria that can both cause foodborne illness. The company first announced the recall on August 13th, 2021 and has not learned of any illnesses related to the recall at this time. The bacteria was detected during a routine monitoring of the food production facility.
Fear not—no other Hostess products, including beloved nostalgic treats like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Donettes, or Honey Buns, were included in the recall.
However, thirty-two batches of the Hostess Soft White Hamburger Buns were included in the recall, all which bear the item UPC number 888109110987. The Soft White Hamburger Buns have best by dates of August 13th, 2021 through October 4th, 2021. Only 16 batches of Hostess Soft White Hot Dog Buns were recalled; the with item UPC number is 888109110970. Best by dates for the recalled hot dog buns are August 13th, 2021 through September 30th, 2021.
Hostess Cake says these buns were sold "to distributors, convenience stores, and other retail stores throughout the United States” and has not yet released a list of specific states or stores where the buns were distributed. If you have purchased an affected Hostess product in any of the 50 states, you should dispose of the product immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund to be safe.
Salmonella infection can appear within 12 to 72 hours and symptoms can last for 4 to 7 days. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and a fever. Those who have contracted listeriosis generally report symptoms within one to 4 weeks after infection, though some symptoms can appear as late as 70 days after exposure. Both forms of foodborne illnesses most severely affect elderly adults, pregnant women, children, and anyone else with a compromised immune system. Most people infected with listeria experience flu-like symptoms, confusion, loss of balance, and muscle stiffness.
If you have any questions about the recall, you may contact Hostess’s customer service line at 1-800-483-7253.
Written by: Kelly Vaughan
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