Alpha Foods Recalls Vegan Sandwiches, Burritos Containing Milk Protein

Alpha Foods, a maker of vegan meals and plant-based meat alternatives, has issued a voluntary recall of its Meatless Breakfast Sandwiches and frozen burritos after traces of milk were discovered in the products.

In a statement to NOSH, the company said it was alerted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on December 12 that traces of casein – a milk protein that could pose a health risk for people with milk allergies – were found in 16 different product lots. Alpha Foods said it immediately contacted retailers and customers to cease distribution, production and sale of the products.

“We pride ourselves on making plant-based foods that consumers love and trust, and we have always been committed to a safe food supply,” the company said in the statement. “Our commitment to our consumers and approach to producing our craveable and convenient plant-based favorites is at the core of our mission.”

The contamination impacted eight SKUs, including six burritos (Bac’n Scramble Breakfast, Chik’n Fajita, Meatless Sausage Breakfast, Philly, Pizza and Steakless Ranchero) and two breakfast sandwiches (Meatless Sausage and Meatless Chorizo). The affected products have a wide range of expiration dates, from February 24, 2024 to November 2, 2024. The exact product lot numbers were made available in a press release yesterday.

The products have been shipped nationwide to retail accounts and some were sent directly to consumers who purchased them online. The company told NOSH it has been “extremely proactive” in its communications and thus far it has received no reports of illness or other problems from consumers.

Alpha Foods was founded in 2015 and its products are available in over 90,000 points of distribution across the U.S. The California-based company’s breakfast sandwiches and burritos launched last year and in October the brand introduced a new Chik’n & Maple Waffle breakfast sandwich.

The company said it does not anticipate the recall to affect upcoming innovations in 2023. Asked whether the recall will impact fulfillment rates or lead to extended out-of-stocks, the company said it is currently “working through” the issue and will have more information available the coming weeks.