Siren Is Recalling Its Birthday Cake Bites For Undeclared Allergens

According to a report from the FDA, plant-based snack brand Siren just issued a nationwide alert for its Birthday Cake Protein Bites due to the treats potentially containing "undeclared cashews and almond butter." The decision to recall the item came about on January 27 after a customer reported experiencing an allergic reaction to the product. Further investigation found the birthday cake bites contained traces of cashew and almond butter, which are not explicitly noted on the package ingredients list. 

The Siren website only mentions almond protein as a possible allergen in any of its protein bites. Neither the FDA nor Siren Snacks has disclosed the severity of that person's reaction, but both advise people with nut allergies to not eat the birthday cake bites to minimize the potential of experiencing a reaction. At the time of writing, none of Siren's other offerings have been recalled, but the company says customers who have purchased these bites may return them for a refund or replacement if they are concerned. 

The FDA states the batch of birthday cake bites containing the allergens come in multi-colored 1.7-ounce bags with the UPC: 8-62768-00048-3. A photo shared from the website shows the front side of the packaging features sprinkles and balloon graphics with the brand name "Siren" inside a circular logo. The bites were sold in Target stores all around the US under caddie UPC:8-62768-00049-0. Affected packages should also have a stamp featuring one of these lot codes: 21326, 21335, 21336, or 21340.

Per the CDC, about one out of every 13 children in the U.S. has a food allergy. Allergies to tree nuts (not to be confused with peanuts, which are legumes), are among the most common. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, types of tree nuts include hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, and pistachios. People with nut allergies risk experiencing a strong reaction, including life-threatening anaphylaxis, when exposed to any products that contain these nuts. Signs of anaphylaxis include swelling of the throat, wheezing, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, confusion, a drop in blood pressure, and fainting (via Healthline). If you or someone you are with experiences signs of anaphylaxis, seek emergency medical care immediately.

While some people may be allergic to just one type of tree nut and not all of them, allergy experts say that in order to minimize a reaction, it may be a good idea to avoid products containing nuts in case of cross-contamination. For this reason, individuals with any kind of nut allergy (not just cashews or almonds) may still want to avoid eating the Siren Birthday Cake Protein Bites to be on the safe side.