FDA issues highest risk level recall for over 6,000 tubs of protein powder
Controversies around protein powder refuse to stop. A week after findings of a study suggested presence of heavy metals in protein powders, a renowned protein powder brand Orgain has issued a voluntary recall of its chocolate-flavored “30g Plant Protein Complete Protein Powder” due to undeclared peanut allergens. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the recall as a Class I risk, the highest warning level, indicating a significant risk of serious health consequences or death.
While the recall by Orgain, an Irvine, CA-based company, was announced on December 17, 2024 by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a January 10, 2025 update discloses that the FDA had assigned the incident a Class I risk —the FDA’s highest risk in a three-tier system. Class I risk is when there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health effects or death.
A batch of Orgain's 30-gram (g) Plant Protein Complete Protein Powder was recalled due to undeclared allergens. Five hundred twenty-three 12-count cases of the supplement, or 6,276 two-pound, one-ounce tubs of chocolate flavored powder, were found to contain peanut residue. The company also referred to the product by a second name in the recall notice “30g Protein Organic Plant Based Powder – Chocolate.
Orgain announced that the recalled product “was distributed nationwide through both retail stores and online platforms,” with major retailers such as Costco, Walmart, and Amazon among those carrying the brand. The affected units are packaged in plastic tubs with blue labels and can be identified using the following details:
Expiration date: June 20, 2026
UPC Code: 8 51770 00760 3
Product Lot Code: 4172-02-P
The issue came to light after one consumer reported an allergic reaction, prompting the company to act “out of an abundance of caution.” No additional incidents have been reported so far.
What is a peanut allergy?Peanut allergy occurs when the body's germ-fighting immune system reacts to peanuts and thinks it's something threatening and responds by causing symptoms like swelling, hives or vomiting. It's one of the most common causes of a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis which is severe and life-threatening and can happen seconds or minutes after exposure to something you’re allergic to. If you find it difficult to breathe or face trouble swallowing, reach for a medical emergency immediately.
Customers who have purchased the recalled product should stop using it and contact Orgain for a refund. For more information, consumers can reach out to the Orgain Consumer Care Team.
This recall comes just days after another Orgain product was praised by New York Magazine’s The Strategist as the “best plant-based protein powder with simple ingredients.”
While the recall by Orgain, an Irvine, CA-based company, was announced on December 17, 2024 by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a January 10, 2025 update discloses that the FDA had assigned the incident a Class I risk —the FDA’s highest risk in a three-tier system. Class I risk is when there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health effects or death.
A batch of Orgain's 30-gram (g) Plant Protein Complete Protein Powder was recalled due to undeclared allergens. Five hundred twenty-three 12-count cases of the supplement, or 6,276 two-pound, one-ounce tubs of chocolate flavored powder, were found to contain peanut residue. The company also referred to the product by a second name in the recall notice “30g Protein Organic Plant Based Powder – Chocolate.
Orgain announced that the recalled product “was distributed nationwide through both retail stores and online platforms,” with major retailers such as Costco, Walmart, and Amazon among those carrying the brand. The affected units are packaged in plastic tubs with blue labels and can be identified using the following details:
Expiration date: June 20, 2026
UPC Code: 8 51770 00760 3
Product Lot Code: 4172-02-P
The issue came to light after one consumer reported an allergic reaction, prompting the company to act “out of an abundance of caution.” No additional incidents have been reported so far.
What is a peanut allergy?Peanut allergy occurs when the body's germ-fighting immune system reacts to peanuts and thinks it's something threatening and responds by causing symptoms like swelling, hives or vomiting. It's one of the most common causes of a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis which is severe and life-threatening and can happen seconds or minutes after exposure to something you’re allergic to. If you find it difficult to breathe or face trouble swallowing, reach for a medical emergency immediately.
Customers who have purchased the recalled product should stop using it and contact Orgain for a refund. For more information, consumers can reach out to the Orgain Consumer Care Team.
This recall comes just days after another Orgain product was praised by New York Magazine’s The Strategist as the “best plant-based protein powder with simple ingredients.”
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