Texas Pete hot sauce products recalled in NC. Here’s how to ID the bottles
Two Texas Pete sauces of different sizes have been recalled by the North Carolina-based manufacturer for mislabeling and the presence of undeclared sulfites.
The Habanero Buffalo Sauce and Sweet CHAbanero Sauce were shipped to distribution centers and retail stores in 10 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and Vermont, according to the recall notice from Thursday, April 3.
Here’s what to know about the recall.
Which Texas Pete sauces are affected?
Various sizes of Texas Pete Habanero Buffalo Sauce and Texas Pete Sweet CHAbanero Sweet Sriracha Habanero Sauce have been recalled. The sauces were distributed between Wednesday, Feb. 5 and Wednesday, March 26.
The table below shows the affected products and corresponding best by dates and sizes.
Why were the Texas Pete sauces recalled?
During an internal quality testing of the Habanero Buffalo Sauce bottles, the manufacturer — Winston-Salem-based T.W. Garner Food Company — found that the sauce contained Sriracha Sauce, which contains sodium bisulfite as a preservative.
The undeclared sulfites may be dangerous to people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sulfites, and “run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction” if they consume the products.
The recalled Sweet Chabanero Sauce bottles do not contain the labeled ingredient aged peppers, which includes red habanero peppers, salt and vinegar.
No illnesses have been reported as of the April 3 recall date.
What to do if you have the recalled sauces
Anyone who has purchased these Texas Pete products should dispose of it or return it to the store for a full refund.
Questions may be directed to Katerine Cardoso, the director of quality assurance, at 336-231-6417 (8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday). Customers may also email contactus@garnerfoods.com.
Why is Texas Pete named for the Lone Star State?
Father Sam Garner and his three sons — Thad, Ralph and Harold — together founded the T.W. Garner Food Co. in 1946. But Texas Pete sauce came in 1929, before the business was incorporated, The News & Observer previously reported.
One of the sauces they developed following their debut sauce, barbecue sauce, was hot sauce. While brainstorming names, a marketing adviser suggested “Mexican Joe,” alluding to the flavors of Mexican food. But Sam Garner wanted it to have an American name, so they traveled just north, to Texas, another place with a reputation for spicy foods.
Sam Garner then looked at Harold, whose nickname was Pete.
This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Texas Pete hot sauce products recalled in NC. Here’s how to ID the bottles."
