A Sacramento-based food producer has yanked its popular Ola-Ola pounded yam from shelves after regulators flagged a hidden milk ingredient that could trigger dangerous allergic reactions. The recall targets 64-ounce bags with expiration dates from November 2028 through May 2029, and anyone with a milk allergy or sensitivity is being urged to steer clear.
FDA Posts Company Recall Notice
The recall went public after Fayus Inc., doing business as Yusol International Foods, reported that an internal review uncovered a serious labeling miss. Some OLA-OLA POUNDED YAM packages did not list sodium caseinate, a milk-derived protein, on the ingredient panel, according to the FDA.
The federal notice explains that the affected 64-ounce clear plastic bags were shipped between December 2025 and May 2026 to the United States, Canada and Australia, and sold in California, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas. The FDA has also shared product photos so shoppers can double-check whether their pantry stash is part of the lot.
Canadian Watchdog Flagged The Product First
Regulators in Canada were first to sound the alarm. The country’s food-safety agency issued a national recall on June 26 after a consumer complaint and labeled it a Class 1 recall, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In that notice, Genesis Imports Inc. is listed as the recalling firm for the Canadian market, and retailers are told not to serve, sell or distribute the affected product.
So far there have been no reported allergic reactions tied to the recalled pounded yam, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says, and inspectors are checking that recalled stock is actually coming off store shelves.
Company Blames A "Temporary Breakdown"
Fayus chalked the issue up to what it called a "temporary breakdown" between its production and packaging processes, which led to the milk ingredient being left off some labels. The company apologized for the inconvenience in its announcement, according to the FDA.
To patch the problem in the short term, Fayus says it will place dairy-allergen warning stickers on affected bags that are still on store racks. Longer term, the recall is meant to pull any incorrectly labeled product out of circulation.
What Shoppers Should Do
Anyone with a milk allergy or sensitivity is being told not to eat the recalled pounded yam. Instead, consumers can bring affected packages back to the store for an exchange or a correctly labeled replacement, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
The recall only applies to 64-ounce Ola-Ola pounded yam bags with expiration dates from November 2028 through May 2029 where milk does not appear on the ingredient label. If you are unsure whether your bag is involved, check the expiration date printed on the front of the package or ask a retailer to confirm before using it.
Brand Background And Past Notices
Ola-Ola is a well-known brand of instant pounded yam flour used in West African cooking, and the maker lists several bag sizes on its product pages. This is not the first time the brand has run into allergy-related trouble. In 2023, regulators in the United Kingdom pulled Ola-Ola pounded yam for undeclared milk and sulphites, according to the Food Standards Agency.
Regulatory agencies and retailers say they are keeping an eye on store aisles to make sure only correctly labeled bags remain in stock. In Canada, shoppers looking for more information can turn to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recall notice, which includes detailed product identifiers and public enquiry contacts.
