How To Tell If Your Ranch Dressing Was Recalled

There is a surprise waiting inside over 8,000 bottles of Wish-Bone Ranch Dressing, which is being recalled after consumers discovered the product was mixed with Wish-Bone Blue Cheese dressing. Since the discovery, the New Jersey-based company has released statements (citing "undeclared egg") and is willingly putting out a partial recall of the 24-ounce product. But don't start panicking yet — the dressing, which was bottled by an outside contractor, is perfectly safe to eat if you 1) actually like blue cheese and 2) are not allergic to eggs.

Unlike Ranch dressing, there are eggs and egg products used to create Wish-Bone Blue Cheese dressing. As a result, the contaminated bottles now contain a possible allergen not listed on the ranch dressing bottle, and pose a threat to those with egg allergies. Wish-Bone has notified all stores who stock its products, as well as the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, and are offering a full refund of the product at the place of purchase.

So what's all the fuss over a few eggs? Though it might seem like a lot of work, eggs are actually one of the most common food allergies out there. An estimated 2 percent of children have sensitivities to egg, and while 70 percent of them may eventually outgrow their allergy, reactions can range from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Because egg allergies are so common and are used in a large amount of products, eggs are one of eight major allergens that have specific labeling requirements by law.

If you have a bottle of Wish-Bone Ranch Dressing sitting in your pantry right now and 1) are allergic to eggs or 2) hate blue cheese, there are a few ways to tell if your salad dressing is contaminated. According to Wish-Bone, be on the lookout for 24-ounce bottles that have a "Sell By" date of Feb. 17, 2016. If you want to be extra careful, you can check the universal product code. If your bottle is contaminated, it should carry the code 0-41321-00661-6. If you have questions about the recall or found a contaminated bottle of dressing, consumers are encouraged to call the company at 888-299-7646 for a refund.