According to a recall notice issued Friday by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the chocolates contain milk, which wasn’t declared by GKI Foods on the packaging when distributed, and could be a life-threatening problem for those with milk allergies.
GKI Foods LLC is recalling the following products:
- Dark Chocolate Almond
- Dark Chocolate Banana Chips
- Dark Chocolate Blueberries
- Dark Chocolate Almond Bark
- Dark Chocolate Cashews
- Dark Chocolate Cherries
- Dark Chocolate Coconut
- Dark Chocolate Coconut Almonds
- Dark Chocolate Coffee Beans
- Dark Chocolate Cranberries
- Dark Chocolate Ginger
- Dark Chocolate Peanuts
- Dark Chocolate Pecans
- Dark Chocolate Pineapple
- Dark Chocolate Powerberry
- Dark Chocolate Pretzel Balls
- Dark Chocolate Raisins
- Dark Chocolate Ginger Snap Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Strawberries
- Dark Chocolate Turbinado Sea Salt Almonds
- Dark Chocolate Pretzel Nibs N/A
Meijer is recalling:
- MEIJER BULK DARK CHOCOLATE ALMONDS 18 OZ – UPC # 7-19283-40301-8
- MEIJER BULK DARK CHOCOLATE CASHEWS 18 OZ – UPC # 7-19283-40302-5
- MEIJER BULK DARK CHOCOLATE COFFEE BEANS – UPC # 7-19283-40313-1
The above products were sold from January 1, 2016, to October 27, 2017, at supermarkets and convenience store chains in 27 states, FDA said.
Milk is one of the most common food allergies, particularly in children. Between 2 and 3% of children younger than 3 are allergic to milk, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Although it was once believed that most of these would outgrow their allergy by the time they turned 3, recent studies have contradicted this theory. In one study, less than 20% of children had outgrown their allergy by age 4.
Signs and symptoms of a milk allergy include:
- Hives
- Wheezing
- Vomiting
Symptoms that may take more time to develop include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Coughing or wheezing
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Itchy skin rash
- Colic (in babies)
If you purchased chocolate affected by the recall, you should discard it immediately or return it to the place of purchase — if you have a milk allergy — if not, please disregard this message and return to normal eating habits.
Source: NBC News