George J. Howe Co. recalls sunflower seeds over undeclared cashews in 24 states

GROVE CITY, PA (May 8, 2026) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a voluntary recall issued by George J. Howe Co. of Grove City, Pennsylvania, covering 13,619 pounds of sunflower seeds across three SKUs due to undeclared tree nut (cashew) allergens. According to the FDA, the issue was caused by an oversight in the company’s production process at the changeover between products, resulting in cashew-containing product entering sunflower seed packaging without disclosure. People with a tree nut allergy or severe sensitivity to cashews run the risk of a serious or potentially fatal allergic reaction if they consume the product. No illnesses have been reported to date.

George J. Howe Co. recall: Quick summary

George J. Howe Co. announced a voluntary recall on May 7, 2026, covering three sunflower seed products totaling 13,619 pounds after discovering that cashews were present in specific best-by date ranges but not declared on the label. The affected products were distributed across 24 states through retail grocery chains including Giant Eagle, Walmart, Foodland, Piggly Wiggly, Shop Rite, and Shop N Save, as well as foodservice accounts, specialty retailers, airport concessions, and institutional customers. Consumers who purchased any of the three affected products within the recalled best-by date ranges should stop consuming them immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

What happened?

The FDA said George J. Howe Co. initiated the voluntary recall on May 7, 2026, after a routine inspection revealed that sunflower seed products had been distributed in packaging that did not disclose the presence of cashews.

In its recall notice, the company confirmed the root cause: the issue was caused by an oversight in the production process at the changeover of products. In shared production facilities that process multiple nut varieties, the transition from one product run to another requires strict cleaning and verification protocols. When those steps are not completed correctly, residual product or cross-contaminated material from one run can enter the packaging of the next. In this case, cashew-containing product entered sunflower seed packaging at the changeover point.

The recall covers three SKUs across specific best-by date ranges. Products with other best-by dates are not included. No illnesses have been reported to date.

Affected products

Product	Size	UPC	Best-by dates	Format
Fresh Roasted Sunflower Seeds, Lightly Salted	11 oz	073171003163	08/28/2026, 09/18/2026, 10/01/2026, 10/09/2026, 11/18/2026, 12/12/2026	Blue plastic stand-up pouch
Fresh Roasted Sunflower Seeds, No Salt	11 oz	073171003200	09/24/2026, 10/30/2026, 11/18/2026, 12/11/2026	Blue plastic stand-up pouch
Sunflower Seeds, roasted and salted	9.5 oz	073171027015	7/22/2026, 09/05/2026	Gold label plastic tub

What caused the issue?

Production changeover: a recurring failure point

The root cause of this recall is a production changeover error. George J. Howe Co. processes multiple nut products at its Grove City, Pennsylvania facility, and the transition from one product to another on shared equipment requires a complete changeover procedure. This includes cleaning the production line, verifying that residual material from the previous run has been removed, and confirming that the correct product is entering the correct packaging.

In this case, that changeover produced an oversight. Cashew-containing material entered sunflower seed packaging without detection, and the finished pouches and tubs went to market labeled as sunflower seeds only. The label on all three products already included a general advisory: “This product was packaged in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk products, soy, wheat and eggs.” That advisory, however, does not substitute for a direct declaration of cashews as an actual ingredient present in the product. Under FALCPA, a “may contain” statement is not a replacement for mandatory allergen disclosure when the allergen is confirmed to be present.

Why the “may contain” advisory does not cover this recall

This is an important distinction for consumers and manufacturers alike. Many nut and snack products carry general “may contain” or “processed in a facility with” advisories to communicate potential cross-contact risk. These statements are voluntary and advisory. They are not the same as a mandatory allergen declaration. When an allergen is actually present in a product as a result of a confirmed production event, the FDA requires it to be declared on the ingredient label. The existing facility advisory on George J. Howe Co.’s sunflower seed packages did not satisfy that requirement for the affected production runs.

Why cashew allergens are serious

Cashews are classified as a tree nut, one of the nine major food allergens the FDA requires manufacturers to disclose under FALCPA. Tree nut allergies are among the most common and severe food allergies in the United States. Reactions can range from mild symptoms such as itching, hives, and gastrointestinal discomfort to full anaphylaxis, a rapid and potentially fatal immune response. A consumer with a cashew or tree nut allergy who purchased these sunflower seeds based on the label had no reason to suspect cashews were present.

Questions you might have

1. Which products are included in this recall? Three George J. Howe Co. sunflower seed products are included: Fresh Roasted Sunflower Seeds, Lightly Salted (11 oz, UPC 073171003163), Fresh Roasted Sunflower Seeds, No Salt (11 oz, UPC 073171003200), and Sunflower Seeds roasted and salted (9.5 oz, UPC 073171027015). Only specific best-by dates are affected for each SKU. Refer to the affected products table above for the complete list of recalled best-by dates. Products with best-by dates not listed are not included.
2. Where was the recalled product sold? The affected sunflower seeds were distributed across 24 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Retail channels included Giant Eagle, Walmart, Foodland, Piggly Wiggly, Shop Rite, Shop N Save, independent grocers, foodservice accounts, specialty retailers, airport concessions, and institutional customers.
3. What allergen is undeclared in the recalled products? Cashews. Cashews are classified as a tree nut, one of the nine major food allergens the FDA requires to be declared under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. The recalled sunflower seed packages did not list cashews as an ingredient.
4. The package already says “may contain tree nuts.” Does that cover this recall? No. The “may contain tree nuts” advisory on these products is a voluntary statement that communicates the general risk of cross-contact in a shared facility. It does not substitute for a mandatory allergen declaration when an allergen is confirmed to be present in the product as a result of a specific production event. When cashews were identified as actually present in specific production runs, a formal allergen declaration and recall became required.
5. What caused the cashews to end up in sunflower seed packaging? According to the recall notice, the issue was caused by an oversight in the production process at the changeover of products. When production switches from one nut product to another on shared equipment, a complete cleaning and verification procedure must be followed. In this case, that process produced an error that allowed cashew-containing material to enter sunflower seed packaging.
6. Who is most at risk from this recall? Anyone with a cashew or tree nut allergy or sensitivity is at risk. Tree nut allergies can cause reactions ranging from mild hives or gastrointestinal symptoms to severe anaphylaxis. If you have a tree nut allergy and consumed any of the recalled products within the affected best-by date ranges, monitor yourself closely and contact a physician if you experience any symptoms.
7. Were any illnesses reported? No. As of the recall announcement on May 7, 2026, George J. Howe Co. confirmed no illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled products.
8. How do I identify whether my product is included? Check the UPC code and best-by date on your package. The best-by date is printed on the product packaging. Match your UPC and best-by date against the affected products table above. Only the specific best-by dates listed for each UPC are included. If your product’s best-by date does not appear in the table, it is not part of this recall.
9. How do I get a refund? Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. For questions, contact George J. Howe Co. at (800) 367-4693, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or by email at [email protected].
10. Is this a voluntary recall or was it ordered by the FDA? This is a voluntary recall initiated by George J. Howe Co., conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Here’s what you should do

• What to do with the product: Stop consuming it immediately. Return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
• How to identify the affected product: Check the UPC and best-by date against the table above. The two 11 oz products come in blue plastic stand-up pouches. The 9.5 oz product comes in a gold label plastic tub. All carry the George J. Howe Co. branding.
• Brand contact details: George J. Howe Co.: (800) 367-4693, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Email: [email protected].

Behind the brand

George J. Howe Co. is a family-owned candy, coffee, and nut company founded in Grove City, Pennsylvania, in 1917. George J. Howe originally opened a small grocery store on South Broad Street, where he began roasting coffee beans in the store window as a way to attract customers. Demand for the coffee grew so quickly that he sold the grocery business in 1927 and became a full-time coffee roaster. By 1931, the company moved into a purpose-built facility on Grove City’s West Main Street, which remains its home today.

Over the following decades, the company expanded its product line from coffee to roasted nuts, candy, and tea, distributing under the “Daily Delight” and “Here’s Howe” brand names. Today, George J. Howe Co. operates as a fourth-generation family business led by CEO Richard Beech, the grandson of company founder George J. Howe. The company distributes its candy, coffee, and nut products through thousands of grocery stores and retail chains east of the Mississippi, as well as foodservice accounts, specialty retailers, airport concessions, and its own online store at georgehowe.com.

Source86 reached out to George J. Howe Co. for additional comment on the production changeover process and the corrective steps being implemented, but had not received a response beyond the company’s published recall notice at the time of publication.

Other relevant recalls

Production changeover errors involving shared nut processing equipment have produced a string of undeclared tree nut recalls across the snack industry in recent months. In May 2026, Second Nature Brands recalled Keto Crunch Smart Mix after cashews and pistachios were found in pouches whose labels did not list them, with the root cause also traced to a production and packaging process breakdown. In May 2026, John B. Sanfilippo and Son recalled eight snack mix products across four brands after a supplier-level failure sent a recalled ingredient downstream through a seasoning formulation. In April 2026, We R Nuts recalled Uncle Giuseppe’s Milk Chocolate Bridge Mix after three allergens including cashews were missing from the label. Earlier in 2026, Gregory’s Foods recalled frozen cookie dough after the wrong product was placed into the wrong packaging, and Karns Foods recalled Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups for the same reason. The pattern is consistent: shared equipment, inadequate changeover controls, and undeclared allergens reaching consumers.

A food safety specialist noted the specific hazard that nut processing facilities face at the changeover point:

“When you run cashews on a line and then switch to sunflower seeds, every gram of residual cashew material has to be accounted for. That is not a soft requirement. It is a hard allergen control point. If your changeover SOP does not include physical verification and documentation, you are one production run away from a recall.”

A packaging compliance consultant added:

“The ‘may contain’ advisory is not a safety net for confirmed contamination events. It is a communication tool for potential cross-contact. The moment a company identifies that an allergen was actually present in a specific production run, a mandatory declaration is required and a recall is the appropriate response. Companies that understand that distinction respond the right way, as Howe did here.”

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said the George J. Howe recall illustrates the allergen control challenge that every shared-equipment nut processing facility faces:

“Food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust. Every recall reminds us how vital it is to maintain transparency, rigorous checks, and supplier accountability. Production changeover is one of the highest-risk moments in any nut facility’s day. Treating it as a formal allergen control point, not just a housekeeping step, is what separates a proactive recall from a reactive one.”

Ensuring safe eats

The George J. Howe Co. recall is a timely reminder that production changeover errors can send undeclared allergens to market even at companies with decades of industry experience. For the estimated 32 million Americans with food allergies, a trusted regional snack brand is not a guarantee of safety when a specific production run was affected by a changeover oversight.

Check your pantry now. If you have any George J. Howe Co. sunflower seed products matching the UPCs and best-by dates listed above, do not consume them. Return them to the store of purchase for a full refund. Contact the company at (800) 367-4693 or [email protected] with any questions.

At Source86, we help food brands manage ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, and private label production with transparency and precision, ensuring that when recalls happen, supply chains are prepared to respond quickly. Our team works directly with manufacturers and nut processors to implement the allergen changeover controls, line verification protocols, and production documentation systems that prevent events like this from reaching consumers. Reach out to learn how Source86 can support your brand’s food safety program.