Three varieties of Pepe's Pastizzis products were recalled by the Quality Patisserie Foods Pty. Ltd. due to an undeclared allergen - milk. Pepe's Pastizzis has been hand-making pastries and selling their finished frozen products to shops and supermarkets in Australia for 36 years now,

The three products, namely Pepe's Vegetable Peas Pastizzi, Pepe's Apple Pastizzi, and Pepe's Pea and Bacon Pastizzi have been recalled just this December 23 from grocery stores, corner stores, and butcher shops around the Sydney metropolitan area of NSW, reported Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

These products that were recalled were packaged in 500 grams plastic packet containing 12 individual pastizzis and are dated "10 DEC 12" and up.

FSANZ noted that consumers who have milk allergies or are intolerant should return Pepe's products to the place where they bought them for a full refund.

The products were recalled to prevent those who have a milk allergy or intolerance from any reaction if the goods were consumed.

Milk allergy, which is one of the most common food allergies, is a reaction to cow milk that results from a hypersensitive immune response to one or more proteins in found in the milk.

While it can be easily be mixed up with lactose intolerance, which is a deficiency of an enzyme, intolerance to milk will on result in an upset stomach, bloating, gas, and loose stools. An allergy to milk however, would have more a more severe reaction.

Milk allergy can occur a few minutes or a few hours after the consumption of milk or products that have milk in them, MayoClinic.com reported.

Some of the immediate symptoms of milk allergy are hives, wheezing, and vomiting. Signs that take time to develop, on the other hand, are: loose stools which may contain blood, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, coughing or wheezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and rashes.

In rare occasions, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction which narrows the airways that can lead to blocked breathing. Considered as a medical emergency, it is treated by either an epinephrine shot or a trip to the emergency room.

Read the details of the recall:

Date notified to FSANZ
23 December 2011

Food type
Mixed and/or processed food

Product name
Pepe’s Vegetable Peas Pastizzi
Pepe’s Apple Pastizzi
Pepe’s Pea and Bacon Pastizzi

Package description & size
500g plastic packet containing 12 individual pastizzis

Date marking
All use by dates up to and including 10 DEC 12

Country of origin
Australia

Reason for recall
Undeclared allergen (milk)

Distribution
NSW only

Consumer advice
Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the products are consumed and should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Contact
Quality Patisserie Food Pty Ltd
0418 729 301