Nearly 1.7 million pounds of brown and powdered sugar recalled for possible wheat, sold in 8 states. Check the batch number, cher.

Now, cher, before you start the pecan pies and pralines this fall, go check that sugar. The FDA has assigned a Class II risk classification to a recall of nearly 1.7 million pounds of sugar products that may contain undeclared wheat, Newsweek reports. Wheat is one of the FDA's nine major food allergens. Minneapolis-based United Sugar Producers and Refiners launched the voluntary recall on Aug. 19 after discovering possible wheat kernel contamination. It covers about 1.27 million pounds of light brown sugar and about 426,500 pounds of powdered sugar, in two-pound bags sold in stores and 25- and 50-pound commercial packages. The recalled items include United Light Brown Sugar, Good & Gather Light Brown Sugar, United 6X Powdered Sugar, Crystal Sugar Powdered Sugar and Good & Gather Powdered Sugar, with batch numbers from MHD26223 through MHD26229, though some powdered sugar lots carry different identifiers. They went to Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Target told Newsweek that no affected inventory reached its distribution centers, stores or customers, so Good & Gather sugar bought at Target is not affected. And this is not every bag of those brands, only the listed batches. Class II means the FDA considers serious or long-term harm remote. But for somebody with a wheat allergy, a hidden allergen in plain sugar is exactly what you'd never think to watch for. If you have an affected bag, don't bake with it and don't give it away. Take it back to the store for a refund, or throw it out. Questions go to United Sugar Producers and Refiners at 1-800-984-3585. Bakeries and restaurants that buy bulk sugar should check their supplier records, too. When in doubt, throw it out, baby. A bag of sugar is cheap. Peace of mind at the supper table is not.