PlainRecalls

Modernist Pantry Recalls Sodium Hydroxide Products Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Packaging Requirement and Violation of FHSA Labeling (Recall Alert)

Reported: April 29, 2021 Initiated: April 29, 2021 #21740 About 330 units

Modernist Pantry LLC, of Eliot, Maine issued this CPSC recall on April 29, 2021. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 330 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The products contain sodium hydroxide, which must be in child resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention …. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #21740) was formally reported on April 29, 2021. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Modernist Pantry LLC, of Eliot, Maine is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 330 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The products contain sodium hydroxide, which must be in child resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). The packaging of the products is not child resistant, posing a risk of chemica… Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately store the recalled products in a safe location out of sight and reach of children. Contact Modernist Pantry for a free replacement child resistant packaging and label. Al… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 5 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

About 330

Related Recalls

6

0 from same agency

Product Description

This recall involves Modernist Pantry Kitchen Alchemy bags of sodium hydroxide. The product was sold in 50 grams and 400 grams black and orange resealable bags and marketed for food preparation use. The Modernist Pantry logo and a female cook appear on the front of the bag. Kitchen Alchemy, Sodium Hydroxide, pH Buffering and the product weight are printed on the label.

Reason for Recall

The products contain sodium hydroxide, which must be in child resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). The packaging of the products is not child resistant, posing a risk of chemical burns and irritation to the skin and eyes. In addition, the label on the products violate the Federal Hazardous Substance Act (FHSA) by omitting the word "poison" and other mandatory information on the packaging.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately store the recalled products in a safe location out of sight and reach of children. Contact Modernist Pantry for a free replacement child resistant packaging and label. All known purchasers are being contacted directly.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 21740
Date reported April 29, 2021
Date initiated April 29, 2021
Recalling firm Modernist Pantry LLC, of Eliot, Maine
Units affected About 330
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

About 330 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
This recall involves Modernist Pantry Kitchen Alchemy bags of sodium hydroxide. The product was sold in 50 grams and 400 grams black and orange resealable bags and marketed for food preparation use. The Modernist Pantry logo and a female cook appear on the front of the bag. Kitchen Alchemy, Sodium Hydroxide, pH Buffering and the product weight are printed on the label.. Recalled by Modernist Pantry LLC, of Eliot, Maine. Units affected: About 330.
Why was this product recalled?
The products contain sodium hydroxide, which must be in child resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). The packaging of the products is not child resistant, posing a risk of chemical burns and irritation to the skin and eyes. In addition, the label on the products violate the Federal Hazardous Substance Act (FHSA) by omitting the word "poison" and other mandatory information on the packaging.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately store the recalled products in a safe location out of sight and reach of children. Contact Modernist Pantry for a free replacement child resistant packaging and label. All known purchasers are being contacted directly.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on April 29, 2021. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 21740.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (21740) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

Compare this recall with Lowes Foods sour cream and onion flavored potato chips, 8oz… →

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).