The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that a Michigan candy company is voluntarily recalling 234 candy bars involving two lots of product due to the potential presence of undeclared allergens.
“There were a total of 156 Peanut Butter Crush Bars and 78 Ca$hew Cow candy bars from a single lot #174250 affected by the recall,” Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory production manager Jamie LeBoeuf told NTD. “We notified all of the wholesale customers, mainly small specialty retailers in Michigan.”
The product was distributed to consumers through Michigan and New York retailers, and the FDA further stated that the Peanut Butter Crush Bar recall was initiated after it was discovered the treat may contain cashews, even though it was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of cashews.
“It was also discovered that Cashew Cow Bars may have been distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of peanuts,” the FDA added. “Steps have been taken to ensure this problem has been resolved.”
The FDA attributed the labeling error to a temporary breakdown in the production and packaging processes.
Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, hazel nuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts are all considered tree nuts by the FDA, which said the Peanut Butter Crush Bar recall was initiated after it was discovered the treat may contain cashews but was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of cashews.
“A total of 12 Peanut Butter Crush Bars and 12 Cashew Cow bars were sent to specialty retailers in New York,” LeBoeuf said. “We have not received any reports of illness or injury or complaints from customers.”
One of the candy bars under recall. Photo courtesy of the FDA
In people who have food allergies, an immune system overreaction to exposure can cause a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis.
“All of the retailers receiving the affected candy bars have been notified, the affected candy bars have been removed from sale and many returned to us,” LeBoeuf added. “We take food safety very seriously, and have implemented additional training, manual checks, and protocols in our manufacturing process to ensure that the problem that caused this cross contamination cannot recur.”
