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The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for three frozen Betterballen meat and poultry products because their labels omit sesame. The beef product also contains anchovy, a fish allergen; consumers are urged to discard the products or return them to the place of purchase.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for three frozen Betterballen meat and poultry products because their labels do not declare sesame, a known allergen. FSIS said the beef product also contains anchovy, a fish allergen, that is not listed on its label, and urged consumers not to eat the affected items.
The alert covers frozen, not-ready-to-eat products produced on October 15, October 16 and October 27. The affected items are six-piece Bami Rolls with lot codes BR-2026-01 and BR-2026-02; 10-piece Saté Kroketten with lot code SK-1026-01; and 12-piece Bitterballen with lot code BB-1026-01. Each package has a best-by date of October 2027.
The products were sold in clear vacuum-packed packages under the Betterballen brand. Packages carry establishment number EST. M3177 or EST. P3177 inside the USDA mark of inspection. FSIS said they were sold online nationwide by Lowlands House and may also have been sold at a festival and farmers market in Greer, South Carolina.
FSIS said the issue was identified during a routine label review. The agency said a recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. It is nevertheless concerned that consumers may still have packages in refrigerators or freezers. Anyone who bought an affected item should not eat it; FSIS advises throwing it away or returning it to the place of purchase.
Allergens Missing From Product Labels
Undeclared allergens can expose people with food allergies to ingredients they may be trying to avoid. Sesame is present in all three affected products, while FSIS identified anchovy in the beef product. The label omissions mean that a shopper relying on the package’s ingredient and allergen information may not know those ingredients are present.
The alert also matters because the products were distributed through nationwide online sales and may have reached local buyers at two locations in Greer. Although the items are no longer available for purchase, some may remain in home freezers. Checking the product name, package size and lot code can help consumers determine whether they have an affected package.
FSIS reported no confirmed reports of adverse reactions connected to the products at the time of its notice. That statement does not establish that no one experienced a reaction; it describes the reports confirmed by the agency so far.
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How FSIS Identified the Label Problem
FSIS oversees inspection and labeling requirements for meat and poultry products under its jurisdiction. In this case, the agency said a routine label review found that allergen information was missing from the Betterballen products. The alert concerns misbranding and undeclared allergens, according to the agency’s notice.
The products were made in three production runs in October 2026, with lot codes that identify the affected packages. Their October 2027 best-by date may mean some are still stored by consumers, even though the products are no longer being sold. FSIS issued a public health alert rather than requesting a recall, explaining that a recall was not requested because the products were no longer available for purchase.
“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume these products.”
— USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
What Is Not Yet Reported
The agency’s notice does not state how many packages were produced or how many may have reached consumers. It also does not provide a list of specific online order dates or say how many items, if any, were sold at the Greer festival and farmers market. The notice identifies the products by name, package count, lot code and best-by date, but consumers with unclear packaging details may need to contact the seller or FSIS.
FSIS reported no confirmed adverse reactions, but the notice does not explain whether any unconfirmed complaints were received. It also does not say whether additional products or production lots could be affected. The agency identified the label issue through a routine review; further findings, if any, have not been described in the source notice.
Check Packages and Avoid Consumption
Consumers should compare any Betterballen products in their home with the alert’s product descriptions and lot codes. If a package matches, FSIS says to throw it away or return it to the place of purchase, and not to eat it. People who are concerned about a possible reaction should contact a health care provider.
Consumers can also seek clarification from Lowlands House or consult the FSIS alert for product details and photographs. The notice does not provide a follow-up date or describe additional enforcement steps. Any new information about affected packages, reported reactions or agency action would depend on updates from FSIS or the company.
Key Questions
Which Betterballen products are covered by the alert?
The alert lists Bami Rolls in six-piece packages, Saté Kroketten in 10-piece packages and Bitterballen in 12-piece packages. All have an October 2027 best-by date; check the alert’s lot codes to identify affected packages.
Which allergens are not declared?
Sesame is not declared on the labels of the affected products. FSIS also says the beef product contains anchovy, a fish allergen, that is not declared.
What should I do if I have one of these products?
Do not eat it. FSIS advises consumers to throw the product away or return it to the place of purchase.
Have any illnesses or reactions been confirmed?
FSIS said there were no confirmed reports of adverse reactions connected to the products when the alert was issued. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a health care provider.
Source: foodsafetynews.com
