T.W. Garner Food Company recalls Texas Pete sauces over mislabeling and undeclared sulfites

In an unexpected disruption to spice lovers and food retailers, T.W. Garner Food Company has issued a voluntary recall of several products under its popular Texas Pete brand after identifying two major labeling issues—one posing a serious allergen risk and the other involving ingredient misrepresentation. The recall, announced on April 3, 2025, affects select lots of Texas Pete Habanero Buffalo Sauce and Texas Pete Sweet CHAbanero Sweet Sriracha Habanero Sauce, with distribution spanning across 10 U.S. states, including California, Illinois, and North Carolina.

According to the company’s announcement, routine internal quality testing uncovered that bottles labeled as Habanero Buffalo Sauce were instead filled with Sriracha Sauce, which contains undeclared sulfites—a known allergen for sensitive individuals. In parallel, a separate batch of the CHAbanero sauce was found to be missing a key listed ingredient: aged red habanero peppers.

What are the health risks of undeclared sulfites in food?

Undeclared sulfites present a serious health concern for a specific group of consumers who may have sulfite sensitivity or sulfite-induced asthma. Sulfites are widely used in the food industry as preservatives to prevent spoilage and discoloration, but in sensitive individuals, exposure—even in trace amounts—can trigger severe allergic reactions. Symptoms can range from mild wheezing and shortness of breath to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

The Sriracha Sauce mistakenly packaged into the Habanero Buffalo Sauce bottles contains sodium bisulfite, a common sulfiting agent. The failure to declare this on the Habanero Buffalo Sauce label significantly increases the risk for unsuspecting consumers who depend on accurate labeling to manage food allergies or dietary restrictions. While no illnesses have been reported so far, experts stress that the potential consequences of such errors can be serious if not addressed quickly.

How did the labeling error occur, and what actions are being taken?

T.W. Garner Food Company discovered the issue during routine internal quality checks—a process that highlights the importance of stringent post-manufacturing product validation in the food industry. The company traced the issue back to a packaging mix-up, where Sriracha Sauce was inadvertently bottled into containers labeled as Habanero Buffalo Sauce. This mislabeling triggered the undeclared allergen concern due to the presence of sulfites in the Sriracha formulation.

Separately, the recall also applies to specific lots of the Texas Pete Sweet CHAbanero Sweet Sriracha Habanero Sauce, where a labeling discrepancy was identified. In these batches, the bottles lacked one of the core ingredients mentioned on the label—aged peppers, which typically include red habanero peppers, salt, and vinegar. While this is not an allergen-related issue, it still raises consumer trust concerns due to misrepresentation of ingredients.

As part of the recall response, T.W. Garner has urged consumers to return affected bottles to their point of purchase for a full refund or to safely dispose of them. Distribution centers and retail outlets in the affected states have been notified, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been informed.

Which products are affected by the Texas Pete recall?

The recall includes multiple sizes and packaging formats of both sauces, manufactured and distributed between February 5 and March 26, 2025. Specifically, affected products include 2 oz, 12 oz, 20 oz bottles, and 0.5-gallon jugs with various UPC codes and expiration dates. These products were shipped to distribution centers and retail locations across California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and Vermont.

The best-by dates are printed in different locations depending on the bottle size: on the cap, the top side, or the back label. Consumers who recently purchased Texas Pete sauces are encouraged to check these identifiers carefully and cross-reference them against the recall details available from the company and the FDA.

How do food recalls like this impact consumer trust and industry standards?

Recalls involving undeclared allergens or labeling inaccuracies can significantly erode consumer confidence, particularly for brands that have long built reputations on consistency and quality. Texas Pete, a well-known name in American hot sauces with a legacy dating back to the 1920s, is not new to grocery store shelves. Manufactured by T.W. Garner Food Company in Winston Salem, North Carolina, Texas Pete products have become household staples for their bold flavors and Southern heritage.

However, even legacy brands are not immune to lapses in quality control, and in today’s hyper-vigilant food safety environment, errors that once might have passed unnoticed are now quickly spotlighted. Industry analysts observe that consumer scrutiny has increased dramatically in recent years, driven in part by greater awareness of food allergies, dietary transparency, and stricter federal oversight. Mislabeling incidents, even if they don’t result in immediate harm, can invite legal consequences, regulatory fines, and long-term brand damage.

To counteract this, companies often implement more robust testing protocols, invest in digital traceability systems, and maintain active recall procedures to respond swiftly. T.W. Garner’s ability to identify and publicly report the error through its internal checks may help mitigate some reputational risk, though the ultimate test will lie in consumer perception over the coming months.

Are there broader regulatory implications for mislabeling food products?

Food labeling and allergen disclosure are governed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). The Act mandates clear identification of major allergens on packaged food labels, including ingredients like sulfites when present above a specified threshold. Non-compliance—even when accidental—can prompt enforcement actions, fines, or mandatory recalls.

The current Texas Pete recall could become a case study in effective recall communication and the challenges companies face in maintaining compliance across large-scale production lines. Given that sulfite-related labeling violations can expose companies to litigation, T.W. Garner’s decision to proactively recall and clarify the affected products aligns with best practices in regulatory compliance and public safety.

Food safety attorneys also point out that recalls tied to allergens are among the most common types of food industry alerts issued each year. They advise companies to conduct frequent audits, cross-train teams on labeling laws, and build automated safeguards into production workflows.

What should consumers do if they have the affected Texas Pete products?

Consumers who have purchased the impacted Texas Pete sauces are advised to immediately discontinue use. They may either dispose of the products safely or return them to the retailer where the purchase was made for a full refund. No receipt is necessary to receive the refund, according to standard recall procedures followed in the U.S. retail industry.

For consumers with sulfite allergies or asthma, even incidental exposure can pose a serious health risk. Those experiencing symptoms such as hives, wheezing, or gastrointestinal distress after consumption should seek medical attention. Individuals are encouraged to report any adverse reactions or product-related complaints to the FDA’s MedWatch program.

As the food industry continues to evolve toward more transparent practices and tighter supply chain controls, recalls like this serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between brand trust, safety assurance, and operational oversight. For T.W. Garner Food Company, the weeks ahead will likely focus on restoring consumer confidence while reaffirming its commitment to high safety standards—a priority that has defined the Texas Pete brand for nearly a century.