The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has escalated the recall status of certain Lay’s Classic Potato Chips to its most critical classification, citing potential life-threatening risks for consumers with milk allergies.

On Jan. 27, the FDA upgraded the recall to class 1, its highest-risk category. According to the FDA, a class 1 recall is defined as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

The recall, initially issued by Frito-Lay on Dec. 16, affects 6,344 bags of 13-ounce Lay’s Classic Potato Chips distributed in Oregon and Washington. According to Frito-Lay, the company initiated the recall after a consumer alerted them of undeclared milk in the product.

“Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product,” Frito-Lay stated in its original recall notice.

The affected chips can be identified by their “guaranteed fresh” date of Feb. 11, 2025, and manufacturing codes starting with either 6462307 or 6463307. According to Frito-Lay, consumers could have purchased the chips as early as Nov. 3 last year.

Milk is one of the nine major food allergens recognized by the FDA, capable of causing severe allergic reactions in sensitive people.

According to the FDA, symptoms of food allergies can range from mild to severe and may include a rash, tingling, or itchy sensation in the mouth, face, tongue, or lip swelling, abdominal cramps, coughing or wheezing, swelling of the throat, and vocal cords, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness.

The FDA states that while most symptoms from food allergies are mild, some may progress to a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can lead to constricted airways in the lungs, severe lowering of blood pressure and shock, or suffocation by swelling of the throat and larynx.

Those who have purchased the affected Lay’s Classic Potato Chips are advised to check their packages and discard them if they match the recall description. Frito-Lay has stated that no other Lay’s products, flavors, sizes, or variety packs are affected by this recall.

Frito-Lay has set up a consumer hotline at 1-800-352-4477 (9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday) for those with questions or concerns.

According to the FDA, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) requires that food labels clearly identify the food source names of any ingredients that are one of the major food allergens or contain protein that comes from a major food allergen.

From NTD News