WASHINGTON (November 6, 2026): The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert involving frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE) meat and poultry products sold by Lowlands House. The agency identified Betterballen Foods LLC as the company associated with the affected products.
Lowlands House public health alert: quick summary
FSIS did not request a recall because the products were no longer available for purchase. However, the agency warned that some units may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.
Official public health alert details
- Public Health Alert Announcement Date: November 6, 2026
- FSIS Publish Date: November 6, 2026
- Announcing Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
- Company: Betterballen Foods LLC
- Company Location: Greer, South Carolina
- Seller: Lowlands House
- Products: Bami Rolls, Saté Kroketten, and Bitterballen
- Product Type: Frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE) meat and poultry products
- Reason for Public Health Alert: Undeclared sesame in the affected products and undeclared fish (anchovy) in the beef product
- Production Dates: October 15, October 16, and October 27, 2026
- Establishment Numbers: EST. M3177 and EST. P3177
- Distribution: Nationwide online sales through Lowlands House, with possible additional sales at a festival and farmers’ market in Greer, South Carolina
- Reported Adverse Reactions: No confirmed reports
- Consumer Contact: Brian Kops, Owner of Betterballen Foods LLC, at 312-340-4823.
What happened?
FSIS identified the labeling issue during a routine label review. The agency found that sesame was present in the affected products but missing from their ingredient declarations.
The review also identified a separate allergen issue involving the beef product. Its Worcestershire sauce contains anchovy, a type of fish, but this ingredient was not declared on the label. The undeclared fish was specific to the beef product.
Affected products
The public health alert covers the following products, all sold in clear vacuum-packed packages:
Product | Package size | Lot code | Best By date |
|---|---|---|---|
Bami Rolls | 6 pieces | BR-2026-01 and BR-2026-02 | October 2027 |
Saté Kroketten | 10 pieces | SK-1026-01 | October 2027 |
Bitterballen | 12 pieces | BB-1026-01 | October 2027 |
The packages bear the establishment number EST. M3177 or EST. P3177 inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Consumers can review the official product labels to help identify the affected products.
Undeclared sesame and fish allergens: What consumers should know
For people with sesame or fish allergies, exposure can trigger reactions ranging from mild symptoms to severe allergic responses.
Symptoms may include hives, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, an allergic reaction can develop into anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. The FDA provides further information about food allergy symptoms and reactions.
Documentation insight
“Compound ingredients can introduce allergens that are not immediately obvious from a product’s main ingredient list. Document management teams need to keep supplier specifications, subingredient details, and allergen declarations connected so that any change in a supplied ingredient is reflected in the finished product’s labeling. This is particularly important when prepared sauces or seasonings are used in food formulations,” said Sweet Carpio, Document Management Specialist at Source86.
Here’s what you should do
Consumers who purchased the affected products should:
- Do not consume them. The affected products contain undeclared sesame, and the beef product also contains undeclared fish.
- Discard or return them. Throw the products away or return them to the place of purchase.
- Contact the company with questions. Consumers can reach Brian Kops, Owner of Betterballen Foods LLC, at 312-340-4823.
- Seek medical advice if necessary. Anyone concerned about a possible allergic reaction should contact a health care provider.
Consumers with food safety questions can also contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email [email protected].
To report a problem involving a meat, poultry, or egg product, consumers can use the FSIS Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.
Behind the brand
Lowlands House is an online retailer of Dutch and European groceries serving Atlanta, Alpharetta, and the greater North Atlanta area. The company offers specialty foods from the Netherlands and other European countries, with nationwide shipping available for eligible products.
Other relevant recalls
Source86 has also covered undeclared sesame in WinCo Foods’ hoagie roll recall and undeclared fish in Sun Noodle’s Sura Tanmen recall.
Regulatory context
Meat and poultry products regulated by the USDA follow FSIS labeling requirements. Under 9 CFR § 317.2(f)(1) for meat products and 9 CFR § 381.118(a)(1) for poultry products, labels must list ingredients by their common or usual names, generally in descending order of predominance.
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and the FASTER Act apply to foods regulated by the FDA, rather than meat and poultry products regulated by FSIS. For FSIS-regulated products, the agency requires ingredients that contain major food allergens to be identified by their common or usual names in the ingredient statement. A separate “Contains” statement is encouraged but not required.
Ensuring safe eats
The anchovy-containing Worcestershire sauce identified in this alert raises a practical question for producers of prepared meat products: where else is the same sauce used?
A manufacturer examining a similar labeling issue could start by identifying every recipe that uses the ingredient, then compare the affected formulations with the packaging assigned to each product. This would help determine whether the problem is limited to one item or whether other products need further review.
For businesses sourcing sauces and other prepared ingredients, Source86 can assist with ingredient sourcing and supplier verification.
