Clearwater, FL — Consumers at Risk: Mislabeled Coffee Cake Contains Undeclared Walnuts

Clearwater, FL (December 16th, 2025) – A recent recall at Publix stores across eight states, including Florida, highlights the serious risks consumers face when food manufacturers fail to properly label allergens. J. Skinner Baking has recalled Publix Maple Walnut Coffee Cake after discovering the product was packaged with labels indicated it was raspberry coffee cake, a label that fails to disclose the presence of walnuts.

For Clearwater residents who shop at their local Publix, this mislabeling error represents more than an inconvenience. It’s a potentially life-threatening situation that may provide grounds for legal action under Florida product liability law.

If you suffered an allergic reaction due to a mislabeled food item, contact our Clearwater product liability lawyers at Light & Wyatt Law Group. Call 727-499-9900 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case, and how best to proceed to recover the maximum compensation for your losses.

Understanding the Publix Maple Walnut Coffee Cake Recall

The recall affects lot number 5309 of Publix Maple Walnut Coffee Cake, manufactured on November 5, 2024. A store employee identified the labeling error after observing walnuts on products bearing Raspberry Coffee Cake labels. Although the coffee cakes feature transparent lids allowing visual inspection, and the raspberry packaging includes language about shared processing equipment with tree nuts, these safeguards fall short for consumers with severe walnut allergies who depend on accurate ingredient declarations to protect their health.

The recalled coffee cakes reached Publix stores in eight states: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia. For Clearwater shoppers who regularly visit their neighborhood Publix bakery, this recall demonstrates that even familiar retailers can stock mislabeled products. According to the recall notice, individuals with walnut allergies face potentially serious health consequences if they consume the affected product.

The Dangers of Undeclared Tree Nut Allergens

Tree nut allergies, including walnut allergies, rank among the most common and potentially severe food allergies affecting Americans. The Food and Drug Administration recognizes tree nuts as one of nine major food allergens that must be clearly declared on product labels. Unlike some food sensitivities that cause mild discomfort, tree nut allergies can trigger anaphylaxis—a rapid, whole-body allergic reaction that can include difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, a sudden drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse, and loss of consciousness.

For individuals with diagnosed walnut allergies, consuming even trace amounts can be dangerous. Many people with tree nut allergies carefully read ingredient labels before every purchase, relying on manufacturers to provide accurate information. When labels are incorrect or misleading, as in this coffee cake recall, consumers are deprived of their ability to make informed choices about their safety.

The consequences of consuming undeclared allergens extend beyond immediate health risks. Victims may require emergency medical treatment, including epinephrine injections and hospitalization. In severe cases, allergic reactions can result in long-term health complications or even death. These outcomes are entirely preventable when manufacturers maintain proper quality control and labeling procedures.

Florida Product Liability Law and Mislabeled Food Products

Under Florida law, food manufacturers and distributors have a legal duty to ensure their products are safe and properly labeled. When mislabeling leads to consumer injuries, multiple parties may be held liable under Florida’s product liability statutes. A product recall lawyer can help injured consumers understand their legal rights and pursue compensation from all responsible parties.

In cases involving mislabeled food products with undeclared allergens, injured parties may pursue claims based on several legal theories:

Manufacturing Defect

Although the coffee cake itself was manufactured correctly, the application of incorrect labels constitutes a defect that made the product unreasonably dangerous. The product that reached consumers departed from the manufacturer’s intended design specifications.

Failure to Warn

Manufacturers have a duty to provide adequate warnings about potential dangers associated with their products. When a walnut-containing product is labeled as a different product without walnuts in the ingredients list, the manufacturer has failed to warn consumers about a known and serious risk.

Breach of Implied Warranty

Consumers have a right to expect that food products are fit for their intended purpose and that labels accurately reflect contents. Mislabeling breaches this implied warranty of merchantability.

Florida follows a strict liability standard in many product liability cases. As such, injured parties do not need to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product was defective and that the defect caused their injuries. This legal framework recognizes that consumers cannot protect themselves from defects they cannot discover through reasonable inspection.

For Clearwater residents injured by this mislabeled coffee cake or similar defective products, time is critical. Florida law imposes a four-year statute of limitations on product liability claims, but waiting to consult with a product recall lawyer can compromise your case. Evidence can be lost, witness memories fade, and manufacturers may destroy production records as time passes.

The Broader Pattern of Food Labeling Failures

The Publix Maple Walnut Coffee Cake recall is part of a troubling trend in the food industry. According to recent data, nearly half of all food recalls stem from undeclared allergens, with such incidents costing the food industry billions of dollars annually. Earlier in 2024, Aldi recalled chocolate chip muffins containing undeclared walnuts, and similar mislabeling incidents have affected products from major manufacturers nationwide.

These recurring failures suggest systemic problems in food manufacturing quality control processes. Whether due to equipment malfunctions, production line errors, or inadequate staff training, the result is the same: consumers are placed at risk. Each recall represents not only a company’s acknowledgment of failure but also potential legal liability for any injuries that result.

For Clearwater consumers, the prevalence of allergen-related recalls makes it essential to stay informed about product recalls and to understand legal options when injuries occur. Even products from well-known retailers like Publix can be affected by manufacturing and labeling errors that put shoppers at risk.

Legal Rights and Options for Injured Consumers

If you or a family member suffered an allergic reaction after consuming the recalled Publix Maple Walnut Coffee Cake or any other mislabeled product, consulting with a product recall lawyer can help you understand your legal options. 

A qualified product recall lawyer can thoroughly investigate your case, gathering evidence such as medical records, proof of purchase, product labels, and manufacturer records. Your attorney can identify all potentially liable parties, which may include the food manufacturer, the labeling company, distributors, and in some cases, the retailer. Building a strong product liability case requires understanding complex food safety regulations, manufacturing processes, and medical causation, knowledge that experienced attorneys bring to every case.

If you’ve been injured by a mislabeled or defective food product in Clearwater or anywhere in Florida, Light & Wyatt Law Group is here to help. Our experienced product recall lawyers understand Florida product liability law and are committed to holding negligent manufacturers accountable for the harm they cause. Call us today at 727-499-9900 for a free consultation.

Jim Magazine

James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association