It can be hard to keep track of the latest food recall. Every week, the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announce at least three, according to the FDA recall alerts archive.

Most FDA recalls are voluntary, meaning the manufacturer realizes there is a potential problem before anyone gets sick or injured.

That is the case with the ongoing recall from a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams ice cream bar, announced on November 17.

The company issued a voluntary recall of one batch of its Passion Fruit Dreamsicle Ice Cream Bars due to the presence of undeclared wheat and soy, the FDA announcement Recall No. F-0427-2025) said. Jeni’s identified the affected lot by batch code 25-210, printed on the top of the carton.

A “crunch topping” from another Jeni’s product, which contains wheat and soy, was inadvertently introduced during the manufacturing process, but these ingredients were not listed on the Dreamsicle packaging, according to the FDA.

For people with allergies or severe sensitivities to wheat or soy, this can present serious, even life-threatening health risks.

The FDA announced a nationwide ice cream recall.

Photo by Pinkybird on Getty Images

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream recall

• Lot #: 25-210
• Best buy date: October 2026
• Where sold: Nationwide at CVS, BevMo, Whole Foods, Save Mart, Target and Publix, among many other retail locations listed on Jeni’s website.

What causes food recalls

While any recall has the potential to impact public health, this one is particularly significant given larger trends in food safety. Undeclared allergens have become a leading driver of food recalls in recent years — and recent data suggests the problem may be intensifying, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund.

Nearly half of all food recalls (49.3%) were due to undeclared allergens, according to the 2023 PIRG report. Much of that surge was attributed to sesame, which was added to the list of major allergens under the Food Allergy Safety Treatment Education (FASTER) Act, signed into law by Congress on January 1, 2023. The FASTER Act requires that food manufacturers list allergens on food labels.

Undeclared allergens now account for 57% of FDA food recalls year-to-date, up significantly compared to prior years, Senior Manager of Food Safety at The Acheson Group, Dr. Lily Yang, told Safety Chain in a webinar focused on food allergens.

Related: Voluntary vs. mandatory food recalls: what you should know

When a company is forced to recall a food or product, the stakes are high both financially and operationally. A single food recall can cost a company $10 million or much, much more, according to data company TraceOne.

Most food-related recalls stem from undeclared allergens, and allergen-contamination dominated food recalls in 2024, costing the food industry an estimated $1.92 billion for direct and indirect costs, according to analysis from labeling and supply chain solutions company Loftware; the analysis was published in New Food Magazine.

The cost underscores how even a single mistake in the supply chain — such as a topping mix-up in a factory, as is the case with the Jeni’s recall — can trigger large-scale recalls, expensive logistics, and reputational damage.

Food recalls are increasingly severe and can be deadly

The recall of Jeni’s ice cream bars is emblematic of allergen risks but it also reflects a broader uptick in recall severity and foodborne illness impacts.

There were 296 total recalls in 2024 across FDA and USDA-regulated foods — a slight drop from 2023, but the human toll was steeper, found the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) in its Food for Thought 2025 report.

Related: FDA expands urgent baby formula recall to all products made by one manufacturer

That year, 1,392 people fell ill from foods that were later recalled, and hospitalizations more than doubled, while deaths nearly tripled compared to the prior year, according to PIRG.A large proportion of those illnesses were tied to just 13 outbreaks, almost all involving Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli, the group found.

Meanwhile, despite the increase in severity, recalls driven by microbial pathogens are not growing faster than allergen-driven ones. A snapshot from Food Safety Magazine shows that historically, about 41% of recalls come from undeclared allergens, while 26% are pathogen-related, and 11% from foreign materials.

How consumers can protect themselves

• Be alert, especially if you have food allergies. Recalls for undeclared allergens occur weekly, per the FDA.
• Check the FDA recalls site regularly and then check your freezers and pantries to make sure you don’t have recalled foods that should be tossed.
• Report anything suspicious. Whether an unexpected ingredient, sudden reaction, or recall notice — your feedback helps companies and regulators respond.
• Support stronger allergen controls. As this recall shows, accidental cross-contamination can happen even in high-quality, “premium” food brands. Better supplier protocols, batch tracking, and label verification matter. Source: FDA recalls site

So far, Jeni’s has reported no illnesses, but out of an abundance of caution, the company is requesting that consumers return any unopened or unfinished cartons from batch 25-210 to the place of purchase for a full refund. The company also recommends contacting its consumer services team at 614-488-3224 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET) or via email at [email protected] with any questions.