It might be in your best interests to stick to flowers when picking out a Valentine’s gift for your loved one this month as the FDA has issued a high risk recall on a popular chocolate brand. A recent uptick in product recalls, particularly food products, is something of a cause for concern. No consumer wants to be fearful of every item they purchase but exercising extra caution is perhaps a necessity and a small price to pay to avoid potential health issues.
Granted, not all of the recent recalls have been high risk with contaminated products that could lead to disease. However, undisclosed allergens and mislabeled packages pose just as great a health risk to those suffering with severe allergies. The label on a packaged food product is the only means for someone with allergies to know if the item is safe to consume or not and as such it is imperative for manufactures to have strict regulations.
FDA issues a recall for Cal Yee Farm products
Cal Yee Farms, a retailer specializing in candies, dried fruits, and nuts, has recently issued a recall notice for its chocolate products. The recall was first sent out on December 12, 2024 citing undisclosed allergens in the product that could pose a risk if consumed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has since elevated the status of this recall to a Class 1 which is the highest risk category.
Some of the products that are being recalled include:
- Dark chocolate apricots
- Dark chocolate walnuts
- Dark chocolate almonds
- Butter toffee almonds
- Yoghurt coated almonds
- Tropical trail mix
The full list of recalled products can be found on the FDA website.
Class 1 risk
As per FDA guidelines, a Class 1 risk will show “a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The first recall in December was made concerning butter toffee, dark chocolate walnuts, and yoghurt coated almonds, amongst other products, that contained “undeclared milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6 and almonds.”
According to the latest report from the FDA made towards the end of January, three specific products from this list are high risk. The Food and Drug Administration had increased the risk level of this recall to a Class 1 because it was discovered that the chocolate used in the dark chocolate walnuts, dark chocolate almonds, and dark chocolate apricots products contained undeclared milk.
Cal Yee Farms has shared that the products with undisclosed allergens had been shipped out to their stores in nine states, namely, California, Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The products could have also been purchased online via the company’s e-commerce store.
The retailer also shared that an inspection of their facilities was carried out by the FDA in order to follow up on the recall. The company also warned that customers “who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6 and almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.”
Fortunately for consumers and the company alike, there have not been any reports of illness as a result of consuming the affected products. The company also announced that customers with any of the above-mentioned allergies who purchased the recalled products “should not consume the product and should dispose of them or return them to us for a full refund.”
Perhaps it would bode well for shoppers to peruse the FDA website before doing their weekly or monthly grocery runs. It may be slightly inconvenient at the time, but avoiding health implications or the extra errand to return a recalled product is definitely worth the tiny inconvenience.