Here’s why there’s a public health alert about empanadas sold under a Walmart brand
What’s on the box of empanadas from Walmart’s bettergoods brand might not be what’s in the box — and that’s potentially dangerous enough problem for a USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service public health alert.
Boxes of bettergoods Chicken Curry Empanadas with best by dates of “05/21/26” or “05/22/26” and “EST. P33967” might have Apple Cinnamon Empanadas. While this involves just different tickling of taste buds for most people, the Chicken Currey Empanadas don’t have milk, so milk isn’t listed among the allergens. But Apple Cinnamon Empandas do have milk.
Someone with a milk allergy who eats an empanada will get a surprise with more consequences than apple cinnamon flavor instead of curry. The reaction, depending on the seriousness of the allergy, could be mild to fatal.
“The problem was discovered when the producing establishment (Rajbhog Foods) notified FSIS that its distributor received four consumer complaints indicating that the apple cinnamon empanada product was packaged inside the chicken curry empanada retail packaging,” the USDA alert said.
This would be a recall, but the possibly affected empanadas aren’t on the shelves anymore. The concern is customers could still have these in their freezers. If you have them, return them to Walmart for a refund.
Questions about this public health alert can be directed to Rajbhog Foods’ Sanjiv Moody at sanjivmody@rajbhog.com or 551-222-4700.
This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 2:17 AM with the headline "Here’s why there’s a public health alert about empanadas sold under a Walmart brand."
