Whole Foods mix-up swaps vegan salad for chicken

Whole Foods markets may have narrowly avoided a major problem after a chicken salad and a vegan-substitute chick'n salad were distributed with their labels swapped.

The high-end grocer recalled its curried chicken salad and the vegan version from 15 stores across the Northeast after an employee noticed the mix-up.

Some of the mis-labeled salads were sold in individual packages, while some was sold at the salad bar.

“Due to the label mix-up, allergens were undeclared,” Whole Foods said in a statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recall site. “The vegan chick’n salad contains soy, and the curried chicken salad contains egg.”

Beyond the ick factor some people may feel towards eating meat -- or faux meat -- the egg and soy swap poses a major health problem: people with egg or soy allergies can experience hives or even anaphylactic shock.

Whole Foods said no illnesses have been reported.

The affected stores are as follows:

Connecticut: Darien, Fairfield, West Hartford; Maine: Portland; Massachusetts: Framingham, Fresh Pond in Cambridge; New Jersey: Milburn-Union, Montclair, Rose City-Madison, West Orange; New York Jericho, Lake Grove, Manhasset, Columbus Circle in New York City, Upper West Side in New York City

Each of the stores has posted signage notifying customers.