Stew Leonard's recalls chicken products over milk allergy concerns

Grocery chain Stew Leonard's issued an allergy alert Monday, warning customers who may have purchased their sliced chicken or chicken salad products that both “may contain undeclared milk.”

The company, which operates stores in East Meadow, Farmingdale and five other locations in the metropolitan area, announced in a news release it was recalling the products.

The food in question was sold at Stew Leonard's deli departments between August 2022 and Jan. 29, 2024, according to the release.

“People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products,” the company said. “No illnesses have been reported to date.”

The products recalled are:

• Sliced and shaved chicken
• Sliced and shaved Buffalo chicken
• Chicken salad
• Chicken salad sub sandwich
• Buffalo chicken salad
• Boom Boom chicken salad
• Cape Cod chicken salad and lite chicken salad

The food items were sold at stores in East Meadow and Farmingdale as well as at Connecticut Stew Leonards in Danbury, Newington and Norwalk, and in Paramus, New Jersey and Yonkers. The Cape Cod chicken salad and lite chicken salad were only sold at the Norwalk Stew Leonard's, according to the company. Customers can return any of the purchased products for a full refund, the company said. 

The food alert comes after a New York City-based professional dancer, Órla Baxendale, 25, of Manchester, England, had an allergic reaction Jan. 11 in Connecticut and died after eating cookies labeled with the Stew Leonard’s brand name that contained undeclared peanuts.

The vanilla Florentine cookie eaten by Baxendale had been manufactured by the Islip-based wholesaler Cookies United.

Stew Leonard’s issued a recall on the cookies, indicating they were sold between Nov. 6 and Dec. 31. at Connecticut stores in Danbury and Newington.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.