WASHINGTON, DC (Dec. 14, 2025) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) has announced that La Guadalupana Foods LLC, a Chicago-based establishment, is recalling approximately 2,669 pounds of ready-to-eat frozen tamales due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. According to USDA FSIS, La Guadalupana Foods labeled certain products as mild pork tamales even though they actually contained bean, cheese, and jalapeño tamales with undeclared milk.
Regulators said the company issued the recall after confirming a labeling error that could pose a health risk to consumers with milk allergies or sensitivities.
La Guadalupana recall: quick summary
The USDA FSIS said La Guadalupana Foods LLC initiated a recall of frozen tamales after discovering a mislabeling issue involving an undeclared milk allergen. La Guadalupana Foods produced the affected fully cooked, frozen tamales in October 2025 and shipped them to foodservice and retail locations in four Midwestern states. Although no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported, regulators urged consumers not to eat the product and to discard it or return it to the place of purchase. The agency also warned that the product may still be in restaurant or consumer freezers.
Official recall details
✦
Recall date: December 14, 2025
✦
Announced by: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
✦
Company: La Guadalupana Foods LLC (doing business as Authentico Foods)
✦
Product: Frozen tamales labeled as “Mild Pork Tamales”
✦
Issue: Misbranding and undeclared allergen (milk)
✦
Product details: 10.9-lb. plastic-lined boxes containing 50 frozen tamales ||| Labeled as “La Guadalupana MILD PORK TAMALES Wrapped in Corn Husks” ||| Pack date: 10/07/25 ||| Best by date: 10/08/26 ||| Establishment number: EST. 21094
✦
Consumer guidance: Do not eat the product. Throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.
✦
Want to know more about what happened? Keep reading.
What happened?
The USDA FSIS said La Guadalupana Foods LLC initiated the recall after a restaurant notified the company that it had received bean, cheese, and jalapeño tamales mislabeled as pork tamales. La Guadalupana Foods produced the fully cooked products on October 7, 2025, and distributed them to restaurant and retail locations in Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
In its recall alert, USDA FSIS warned that the product contains cheese (milk), a known allergen, which the label does not declare. The agency added that “people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk could be at risk of an adverse reaction if they consume the product.”
Affected products
Brand | Product | Size | UPC | Best by date | Issue | Affected states |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
La Guadalupana | Mild Pork Tamales (mislabeled) | 10.9 lb | N/A | 10/08/26 | Undeclared milk allergen | IL, IA, OH, WI |
What caused the issue?
According to the USDA FSIS notice, La Guadalupana Foods triggered the recall after it packaged tamales containing cheese and labeled them as pork tamales. Milk is a major food allergen, and undeclared exposure can cause reactions ranging from hives and gastrointestinal distress to anaphylaxis in severe cases. Individuals with milk allergies are most at risk. The agency confirmed that no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported to date.
Questions you might have
If you have a milk allergy or notice symptoms, seek medical attention immediately and contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
Check for “La Guadalupana Mild Pork Tamales” with pack date 10/07/25, best by 10/08/26, and EST. 21094.
Milk can trigger reactions ranging from mild symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis in people with allergies or sensitivities.
Symptoms may include hives, swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.
USDA FSIS has not received any reports of adverse reactions or illnesses linked to this recall to date.
The tamales were shipped to restaurant and retail locations in Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Consumers should not eat the product and should discard it or return it to the place of purchase.
No. USDA FSIS warned the product may still be in restaurant and consumer refrigerators or freezers.
A restaurant notified the company after identifying bean, cheese, and jalapeño tamales mislabeled as pork.
Consumers can contact La Guadalupana Foods at [email protected] or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline.
Here’s what you should do
- Do not eat the recalled tamales
- Dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase
- Check the label, pack date, and establishment number
- For questions or refunds, contact La Guadalupana Foods at [email protected]
Behind the brand
La Guadalupana Foods LLC, operating as Authentico Foods, produces fully cooked, frozen foods, including tamales, and distributes them to foodservice and retail customers. In its recall notice, the company stated that it has ceased distributing the affected product and is working with the USDA FSIS to ensure it is removed from circulation.
Other relevant recalls
This recall follows several recent allergen-related recalls covered by Source86 involving mislabeled frozen and ready-to-eat products containing undeclared milk, soy, or wheat. Food safety specialists note that allergen mislabeling remains one of the most common causes of recalls. Recent examples include Meal Simple, which recalled its Red Lentil Dal Soup after failing to disclose milk; Lil’ Turtles, which recalled Grandma Belle’s Tomato Basil Soup when milk was omitted from the label; and Prime Food, which recalled Lava Buns after discovering an undeclared milk allergen; and Karison, which recalled its Panjiri, Pinni, and Laddoo products over undeclared milk.
“Food manufacturers need robust allergen control programs and diligent label verification to ensure that all major allergens — including milk — are accurately declared, because even trace amounts can pose serious health risks for allergic consumers,” said Martin J. Hahn, partner at Hogan Lovells and food safety specialist.
Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, added:
“Food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust. Every recall reinforces the need for transparency, rigorous checks, and supplier accountability.”
Ensuring safe eats
Undeclared allergen recalls like this one highlight the ongoing challenges food manufacturers face in labeling accuracy and quality control. For consumers, the reminder is simple: check your freezer, read labels carefully, and follow recall guidance promptly.
At Source86, we help food brands manage ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, and private label production with transparency and precision, so when recalls happen, supply chains are ready to respond quickly and responsibly. Contact us.
