Federal food safety regulators have issued a warning to Bimbo Bakeries USA, known for brands such as Sara Lee and Thomas’, for falsely labeling their products as containing allergens when they do not. The FDA found ingredients like sesame or tree nuts listed on labels, even when not present in the foods, which goes against regulations and misleads consumers. Allergen labeling is not a substitute for preventing cross-contamination in factories, according to FDA officials. Advocates from FARE, a food allergy organization, criticized Bimbo for undermining trust and limiting choices for the estimated 33 million Americans with food allergies. The company, the largest commercial baking company in the US, claimed to take consumer safety seriously and is working with the FDA to resolve the issue. The controversy stems from a law adding sesame as a major allergen that must be listed on packaging, prompting companies to preemptively label products as potentially containing allergens due to cross-contamination concerns. FDA officials have given Bimbo until July 8 to address the misleading labeling or explain why it does not violate standards.