One Roof LLC’s Baltimore facility failed FDA inspection following October 2024 allergen recall, with investigators finding Listeria contamination and no required safety controls.
Quick Facts: Spider Web Tart Recall
Product: Atwater’s Spider Web Tarts in clear plastic containers
Problem: Undeclared almond flour (tree nut allergen) + major facility violations
Risk Level: FDA Class I (highest severity)
Quantity: 26 tarts sold October 19-20, 2024
Locations: 8 farmers markets in MD, VA, and DC
Refunds: Call 410-644-3435 or email info@atwatersfood.com
Status: Company under FDA warning as of August 19, 2025
Other Products: Retail store products not affected
Undeclared Almonds Prompt Federal Investigation
One Roof LLC, operating as Atwater’s, recalled Spider Web Tarts on October 21, 2024, after discovering almond flour not listed on labels. The 26 affected tarts were sold only at farmers markets over one weekend.
Markets where tarts were sold:
- Maryland: Silver Spring, Greenbelt
- Virginia: Arlington Courthouse, Falls Church, Westover
- Washington D.C.: Dupont Circle, H Street, Mount Pleasant
Consumers with tree nut allergies face serious risks from undeclared almonds, including anaphylaxis requiring immediate epinephrine treatment. Products sold at Atwater’s retail stores were not affected.
The FDA designated this a Class I recall on November 27, 2024, its highest risk category for products with “reasonable probability” of causing “serious adverse health consequences or death.”
Products Requiring Return
Spider Web Tarts with Julian date 292 printed on the bottom of clear plastic clamshell containers must be returned. These 26 tarts were sold October 19-20, 2024, at farmers markets only.
The company attributed the mislabeling to “a temporary breakdown in the company’s production and labeling processes.” No illnesses were reported.
FDA Inspection Uncovers Major Violations
Federal investigators examined the Baltimore manufacturing facility from October 24 through December 9, 2024. The Warning Letter issued May 20, 2025, documented systemic failures beyond mislabeled tarts.
No Food Safety Plan Exists
One Roof LLC operated without written hazard analysis for any products, including Spider Web Tarts and Dark Chocolate Walnut Cookies. This violates the Food Safety Modernization Act, which requires identifying and controlling biological, chemical, and physical hazards.
Equipment and Sanitation Failures
Investigators documented:
- Same equipment used for almond and non-almond products without adequate cleaning
- Sanitizer solutions below effective concentrations
- Employees handling dirty equipment then touching clean surfaces without washing hands
- Damaged dough mixer auger creating metal fragment risk
- No supply chain program for mycotoxin control in nuts
Listeria Found in Facility
Environmental swabs detected Listeria innocua in five samples. This strain indicates conditions suitable for Listeria monocytogenes growth. Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a serious infection with 20% mortality rate, particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised individuals.
The company took no documented corrective actions after positive pathogen findings.
Company Response Deemed Inadequate
One Roof LLC’s December 24, 2024, response to inspection findings failed to address key violations. The company provided hazard analysis for Dark Chocolate Walnut Cookies but nothing for Spider Web Tarts. Supplier verification and mycotoxin controls remained unaddressed.
The Warning Letter states failure to correct violations may result in:
- Product seizures
- Injunction halting operations
- Criminal prosecution
- Civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation
Legal Exposure for Atwater’s
FDA documentation provides evidence for personal injury lawsuits. Consumers claiming allergic reactions or foodborne illness can cite the Warning Letter as proof of negligence.
Undeclared allergen settlements typically range $50,000 to $500,000 for non-fatal reactions according to food safety attorneys. Anaphylaxis cases involving documented violations generate larger awards.
Impact on Baltimore Food Scene
Atwater’s operated since 1999, building reputation through farmers markets and local retail. The facility violations affect employees, suppliers, and the brand’s survival.
Small producers face identical federal requirements as industrial manufacturers. The inspection revealed:
- No hazard analysis
- Absent allergen controls
- Failed sanitation procedures
- No environmental monitoring
- Untested recall procedures
Current Status
One Roof LLC remains under FDA oversight as of August 19, 2025. The May Warning Letter set correction deadlines. The agency hasn’t disclosed whether improvements occurred.
Similar violations at other facilities resulted in bankruptcy, acquisition, or permanent closure. The Atwater’s violations weren’t technical oversights but complete absence of required safety systems mandated since 2018.
Significance of Recall Classification
The Spider Web Tart recall exposed an operation lacking basic controls required under federal law. Every product made in the facility faced contamination risks from inadequate sanitation, uncontrolled allergens, and environmental pathogens.
Class I designation means FDA determined serious injury or death was reasonably probable. Tree nut allergies can trigger anaphylaxis, a rapid reaction fatal without immediate epinephrine.
FDA enforcement actions demonstrate food safety requires documented systems, not reputation alone. When foundational controls are absent, any incident reveals systemic failures.
Baltimore’s Atwater’s Spider Web tart recall began with 26 mislabeled desserts but exposed violations threatening permanent closure.
