Aaron's Best franks recalled for peanut contamination

An Iowa meat packing company recalled 1,690 pounds of beef products distributed nationwide because of undeclared peanut allergens, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The recall is for Agri Star Meat & Poultry's 131/ 2 -ounce vacuum-packed packages labeled "Aaron's Best Gluten Free Beef Franks, Hot & Spicy Chipotle."

The products may contain peanuts, which is not declared on the products' labels, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The packaging for the recalled franks features the code "EST. 4653A" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Some may have reached store shelves in Arizona.

Consumers who have peanut allergies should destroy the products or return them to the grocery where they were purchased, said Lauren Kotwicki, spokeswoman for Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and can cause severe, even fatal, reactions, according to the Food Allergy Research & Education, a non-profit organization based in McLean, Va that works to improve the health of an estimated 15 million Americans with food allergies.

For consumers with peanut allergies, strict avoidance of peanuts and peanut products is essential to prevent reactions, according to the organization.

The issue with the franks, which are sold in eight-packs, was discovered when one of Agri Star's suppliers notified the company that cumin spice it had provided may have been contaminated with peanut residue, said the USDA.

Neither the Food Safety and Inspection Service nor Agri Star had received reports of adverse reactions associated with the hot dogs by Jan. 14, according to the government agency. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Agri Star at (718) 440-0459 or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (888) 674-6854.

Agri Star processes and distributes poultry, beef, deli and prepared food under the strictest kosher certification standards, according to the company's website. The company is based in Postville, Iowa.