Wakefern recalls apple sauce over patulin levels
The US grocery cooperative pulled jars of Wholesome Pantry Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce from five store banners after testing found elevated levels of the mould toxin patulin.
Wakefern Food Corp. has recalled jars of its Wholesome Pantry Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce after testing found elevated levels of patulin, a toxin produced by mould, the company said in a notice posted with the US Food and Drug Administration.
The recall covers 23-ounce plastic jars carrying UPC code 04119005677 and a best-by date of 16 June 2027, according to the notice. Wakefern said the affected jars were sold at ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market stores.
Wakefern apple sauce recall: what's affected
No illnesses have been reported, the company says, and the recall notice remains open.
Wakefern is a retailer-owned cooperative whose members operate supermarkets under those five banners across the northeastern United States. The company said it initiated the recall on 14 September 2026, after testing it had commissioned flagged the elevated patulin readings. The FDA published its own notice on the recall on 22 September.
The company said no illnesses or injuries linked to the product had been reported as of the date of the notice. Wakefern is advising customers who bought the recalled jars to return them to the store of purchase for a full refund or a replacement.
What patulin is and why it matters
According to the FDA, patulin is a naturally occurring toxin produced by certain moulds that can grow on apples, particularly fruit that has been bruised or damaged before processing. The agency lists it among the substances it monitors in apple-based products such as juice and sauce.
The FDA has published a guidance level for patulin in apple juice but has not set a single binding limit specifically for apple sauce, and it says it evaluates cases individually once testing shows an elevated result.
Wakefern's recall is one of several this September tied to toxins or pathogens found in US grocery products, following the CDC's declaration that a cyclospora outbreak linked to produce was over earlier in the month. The company said the case remains open while it works with the FDA.
