Dessert Recall Sparks Warning to Customers in Two States

Baltimore-based Atwater’s has issued a recall of its spider web tarts after it was discovered that the dessert contains traces of undeclared almond flour.
The tarts, which were sold on October 19 and 20, pose a risk to consumers who have an allergy to tree nuts, according to an announcement about the recall published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday.
The tarts were sold at farmers markets in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The dessert comes in a clear clam shell plastic package and is marked with a green Atwater’s “Spider Web Tart” label at the top, according to the company’s announcement. The recalled items have a Julian date of 292 labeled on the bottom of the packaging.
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Below is a list of the farmers markets that sold the recalled products. Atwater’s said that the tarts were not sold at their retail locations.
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Atwater’s said that the recall “was initiated after it was discovered that the almond containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of almonds.” Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the “problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company’s production and labeling processes.”
Consumers who purchased the recalled tarts are encouraged to contact Atwater’s directly to return the product for a refund. The company can be reached between Monday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET at 410-644-3435. Recalls can also be requested by email at [email protected].
There have been no illnesses reported in connection to the recall at this time. Newsweek emailed Atwater’s for additional information on Monday.
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Traces of unintended allergens was the most common reason for food recalls between 2020 and 2024, according to a report published in August by Traceone. Under federal law, the nine major allergens—peanuts, wheat, milk, tree nuts, soy, eggs, crustaceans, fish and sesame—must be clearly marked on food product labels. The second most common cause of recalls is bacterial contamination, such as the presence of salmonella, E. coli or listeria.
In a survey conducted by Gallup between July 1 and 21, 37 percent of Americans indicated that they had discarded or returned food in the past year because of product recalls or food safety advisories. More than half of those surveyed said they also had avoided buying specific brands or types of food because of a recall or advisory in the past year.