A Massachusetts soup maker has yanked a batch of minestrone from Whole Foods shelves after one cup turned up with an unexpected ingredient: shrimp. For anyone with a shellfish allergy, that surprise is not just unappetizing, it can be life threatening.
Kettle Cuisine of Lynn, Massachusetts has recalled a single lot of Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup after discovering a mispackaged cup that contained shrimp, an undeclared crustacean shellfish. The recall covers only refrigerated 24 ounce grab and go cups. The company reports that no illnesses have been linked to the product so far, but shoppers who buy prepared soups from Whole Foods are being urged to check use by dates and packing codes before digging in.
According to a company announcement posted by the Food and Drug Administration, the affected product is a 24 ounce clear plastic cup of Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup labeled with Lot Code 1762181, Use By 05/27/26 and UPC 099482502065. The announcement notes that the soup may contain undeclared shrimp, posing a serious allergy risk for people sensitive to crustacean shellfish. The FDA post includes product photos and the company’s formal notice to help shoppers confirm whether their cup is part of the recall.
The items were shipped to Whole Foods locations in Alabama, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and were also sold nationwide through Whole Foods and Amazon websites, according to Daily Voice. Kettle Cuisine says the recall started after one cup found in a store was discovered to be the wrong product, a soup that contained shrimp.
What to look for and what to do
Shoppers are being asked to check their fridges for Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup in 24 ounce clear plastic cups marked with Lot Code 1762181 and Use By 05/27/26. Anyone who has one of those cups should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, the company says. Kettle Cuisine has also set up a customer line at 617-409-1100, available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, for questions about the recall.
The announcement posted on the FDA’s website makes clear that no other soups or use by codes are affected, and that no illnesses have been reported to date.
At home precautions
Because allergens can linger on surfaces even after the food is gone, FoodSafety.gov advises consumers to throw out or return recalled products and to thoroughly clean any surfaces or containers that may have touched them. After cleaning, the agency recommends sanitizing those areas with a diluted bleach solution or another approved disinfectant.
If someone with a shellfish allergy believes they ate the recalled soup and develops symptoms such as hives, swelling or trouble breathing, they should seek emergency medical care right away.
About the maker
Kettle Cuisine, based in Lynn, Massachusetts, produces refrigerated and frozen soups for retailers and foodservice clients. The company’s website lists its product lines and directs consumers to customer service for questions about specific items.
