Food Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, December 15^th, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently posted information about the recall of over 20,000 pounds of pork and beef tamales by a company out of Silicon Valley. The recall was initiated when FSIS observed sesame seeds being added to the tamale sauce and determined that sesame seeds were not listed on the product labels.

According to a study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association several years ago, over a million Americans are allergic to sesame. Earlier this year, the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act was signed into law declaring sesame as the 9th major food allergen recognized by the United States. This change becomes effective on January 1, 2023. Labeling of sesame as an allergen is not required until that time, but as a component of a food product, it needs to be listed as an ingredient.

“These tamales were shipped to retail locations in Northern California earlier this fall to be served to consumers from deli counters,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “While there were no reports of adverse reactions from consumers at the time of the recall notice, FSIS is concerned that some of these products could still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.”

Helping food manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers with labeling services and Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) requirements are the scientists at LA Testing. Their California laboratories offer a wide range of food testing and labeling services that can be essential for protecting the public and preventing costly product recalls.

To learn more about food allergen, labeling or other testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash, and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego, and Ontario.