Chocolate-covered fruits and nuts are being recalled in nine states over fears they may cause an allergic reaction.
More than 19 products sold by Cal Yee Farm in California are part of the recall, which also includes yogurt-coated almonds, trail mixes and dried mangoes.
FDA inspectors found that the products contained substances not listed on the product labels, including milk, wheat, sesame, soy and the dye Yellow 6, all of which could trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction.
The products were sold in clear zipper bags that had a bright yellow label on the front that said “Cal Yee Farm.”
Customers could purchase them at the farm’s main retail store in Suisun Valley, California, or at farm stands and stores in nine other states.
To date there have been no reported illnesses caused by chocolates, nuts or fruit products.
In its alert, the FDA recommended consumers throw away the recalled products or return them to the seller for a full refund.
And officials warned: “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk, soy, wheat, sesame, Yellow 6 and almonds are at risk of suffering a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.” .
More than 19 products sold by Cal-Yee Farm in California are in the recall, which also includes yogurt-coated almonds, trail mixes and dried mangoes (the chili mango above is included in the recall, but the pretzels are not). .
The recalled products were sold in clear zipper bags that had a bright yellow label on the front that said “Cal Yee Farm.”
Products were sold in 8 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb, or 5 lb sizes. A complete list of recalled products was published by the FDA.
They include Dark Chocolate Pecans, Butter Caramel Almonds, Yogurt Covered Almonds, Tropical Trail Mix, Dark Chocolate Raisins, Chili Mango, Cajun Sesame Hot Sticks, New Orleans Hot Mix, Two Types of Fruit Baskets and apricots with dark chocolate.
The nine states where they are being removed are: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
But officials warned that the products were also sold online, so they could also be available in other states.
It is estimated that about 33 million Americans are allergic to at least one food.
Among them, 6.2 million have a milk allergy; 2.4 million have a wheat allergy; 1.9 million are allergic to soy.
Allergic reactions are triggered when the immune system mistakenly identifies a food as a threat, triggering a potentially fatal response.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction include skin rash, wheezing, coughing or difficulty breathing, and itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and lips.
Within minutes of consuming the food, people could also experience anaphylaxis, a serious, life-threatening reaction.
In this, the immune system releases chemicals that cause blood vessels to expand and airways to constrict.
This can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure and fluid leak into the lungs, which could lead to death.
Patients can treat mild reactions by taking antihistamines or applying a cold compress to reduce symptoms.
But in case of a severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis, they should be taken to the hospital immediately. Patients who suffer a severe reaction may receive an injection of epinephrine, which works to calm the immune system.