Update, 1/26/26
After publication, Clutch Justice received a direct written response from Albany Farms founder and CEO Bill Saller. The company provided a detailed explanation of the packaging error, its supplier role in the issue, and the corrective steps taken.
Clutch Justice is particularly encouraged by the speed and candor of Albany Farms’ response, including its acknowledgment of the labeling issue, supplier change, and implementation of additional inspection protocols. While concerns about allergy risk in carceral settings remain valid, timely transparency and corrective action matter and are noted here.
The full statement from Albany Farms is included below for clarity and completeness:
Hello, My name is Bill Saller and I’m the CEO at Albany Farms.
We are the manufacturer of the Twisted Noodle Brand ramen noodle cups that had an inner label listing a different brand and flavor than what was on the outside of the cup. An article was written by Rita Williams concerning possible shellfish contamination.
We purchase the cups from a supplier and use them for our production. We were not aware that the cups had an inner lining showing a different flavor. The cups were produced by a company that manufactures cups only; (they only make the paper cups) we in turn produce the finished ramen. There was never anything produced except the product listed on the outside of the cup. We do not manufacture any products that contain meat. shellfish of any kind. All of our seasonings are artificially flavored only. We’re pulling any cups that have the double lining and have changed our cup suppliers. As a team, we are inspecting cups to prevent this issue from ever happening again. We apologize for any confusion created by the cups. Please know that quality assurance is very important with everything we produce.
We appreciate the work that you do and think it’s important to call out issues as they arise.
Please note that as a food manufacturer we produce the best version of ramen possible. It’s our passion to produce the best quality every day and make it affordable. I’m happy to speak with anyone that might want further discussion to clarify.
Sincerely, Bill Saller Founder/CEO Albany Farms
Incarcerated individuals across Michigan DOC facilities are reporting a disturbing food safety issue tied to new commissary soup products supplied through Keefe.
Multiple individuals with documented shellfish allergies report experiencing allergic reactions after consuming Twisted Noodles California Vegetable Cup Soups, a product distributed by Albany Farms through Keefe Group.
The concern is not just the reaction. It is the packaging.
On three separate soup cups, individuals at the G Robert Cotton Facility report that when the outer label is peeled back, the underlying label reads “Panda Signature Shrimp Soup.” In other words, a product sold and labeled as a vegetable soup appears to be over-labeled on top of shrimp-based packaging. In addition to Twisted Noodles, Albany Farms also sells Panda Signature.
On top of the label mixup, the Panda Signature cups warn:
Contains wheat and soy ingredients. Manufactured in a facility that also processes nuts and shellfish products.
For people with shellfish allergies, that distinction is not cosmetic. It is life-threatening. And it’s happening to individuals who cannot easily call and report the problem.
At the time of reporting, there appeared to be no active recall effort. Clutch has since reported it to the FDA, and the issue has been assigned as Food Product Report #487151.
Why This Is Not a Small Mistake
Food labeling laws exist for a reason. Shellfish is a major allergen, and accurate disclosure is not optional. In custodial settings, incarcerated people cannot choose alternative foods, return products, or seek immediate medical care without delay.
When a jail or prison commissary distributes food that may contain shellfish while labeled as vegetable-based, several serious risks emerge:
- Allergic reactions that can escalate rapidly without timely medical intervention
- Inability to avoid exposure, especially for individuals reliant on commissary due to inadequate meals
- Lack of informed consent, because the label does not reflect the underlying product
- Delayed or denied medical response, which is a known systemic risk in carceral settings
This is not about preference. It is about basic safety and bodily integrity.
Over-Labeling in a Carceral Supply Chain
Over-labeling food products may occur in commercial settings for cost or inventory reasons, but in a correctional environment it carries heightened consequences.
If Albany Farms is using shrimp-labeled cups and applying a vegetable label on top, several unanswered questions follow:
- Are the ingredients truly different, or is this a relabeling practice without full reprocessing?
- Are allergen disclosures accurate on the outer label?
- Were correctional agencies informed of this packaging practice?
- Were medical and dietary accommodation systems updated accordingly?
In the free world, mislabeled food can be returned. In jail or prison, it can send someone to the infirmary or worse.
Why This Case Matters
Food is one of the few remaining areas of autonomy for incarcerated people. When that food becomes unsafe, it reinforces a broader pattern seen across carceral systems:
- Outsourced accountability to private vendors
- Minimal oversight of health-impacting contracts
- Low transparency, because the affected population has limited ability to document or escalate harm
This is not just a commissary issue. It is a custodial duty of care issue.
If a person in state custody cannot rely on food labels to avoid a known allergen, the system has failed a basic obligation.
What Needs to Happen Next
At minimum, this situation warrants:
- Immediate removal of the affected soup products from commissary access
- Independent verification of ingredients and allergen exposure
- Disclosure of packaging and labeling practices by Albany Farms
- Review of Keefe’s vendor compliance protocols
- Medical review for individuals who reported reactions
- State-level oversight of commissary food safety practices
Silence here is not neutral. It is a risk multiplier.
What Clutch Justice Is Watching
Clutch Justice will continue to track:
- Reports from incarcerated individuals and their families
- Photographic documentation of mislabeled packaging
- Responses, if any, from Keefe, Albany Farms, or the Michigan Department of Corrections
- Whether corrective action is taken or quietly ignored
If you have documentation, photographs, or firsthand accounts related to this issue, secure reporting channels matter.
Food safety does not stop at the prison gate.
Sources & Documentation
- Reports from incarcerated individuals in Michigan facilities (January 2026)
- FDA Major Food Allergen Guidance (shellfish classification)
- Email from CEO Bill Saller
