Is an undeclared-allergen recall always serious?

For someone with that allergy, yes — an unlabeled allergen can cause a severe reaction, which is why these are often classified Class I. For people without the allergy, the product is typically otherwise safe to eat.

How does Radius detect allergens in a recall?

Radius scans the official recall reason text for allergen and labeling language and tags the matching major allergens. It reflects what the notice says and is informational only, not a medical determination.

The big 9 food allergens and undeclared-allergen recalls

The nine major allergens U.S. law requires on labels, and why undeclared allergens are one of the most common recall reasons.

Updated Jul 5, 2026

Undeclared allergens are one of the single most common reasons food gets recalled in the United States. When a product contains a major allergen that isn't listed on the label, people with that allergy can be seriously harmed — so these recalls are frequently Class I.

The nine major allergens

U.S. labeling law recognizes nine major food allergens. Since 2023, sesame joined the original eight:

Milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Tree nuts (almond, walnut, cashew, and others)
Soy
Wheat / gluten
Fish
Shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster, and others)
Sesame

Why undeclared allergens happen

A supplier changes an ingredient and the label isn't updated
The wrong label is applied to a package
Cross-contact during manufacturing that isn't disclosed

Radius reads each recall notice for allergen language and tags it. These tags are informational — they surface what the official notice says. They are not medical advice.

Track a specific allergen

Radius has a page for each of the nine allergens listing recent recalls that mention it. When the app launches, you'll be able to save an allergen to your profile and get an alert whenever a matching recall is posted.

Frequently asked

Is an undeclared-allergen recall always serious?: For someone with that allergy, yes — an unlabeled allergen can cause a severe reaction, which is why these are often classified Class I. For people without the allergy, the product is typically otherwise safe to eat.
How does Radius detect allergens in a recall?: Radius scans the official recall reason text for allergen and labeling language and tags the matching major allergens. It reflects what the notice says and is informational only, not a medical determination.

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