Health officials have recalled several brands of candy because they could be contaminated with deadly bacteria.
Iowa-based Palmer Candy Company voluntarily recalled its “white-coated confectionery items” this week after discovering they could be contaminated with salmonella, a foodborne illness that infects 1.3 million Americans a year.
The FDA said the affected products were distributed nationwide in Walmart, HyVee, Target and Dollar General stores.
They were also shipped to distributors in the following states: Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
No illness has been reported.
The products were sold under several brand names, including Walmart’s Great Value.
The product comes in a variety of packaging, such as bags, sachets, and tubs. The affected candies were included in products from brands such as Palmer Candy, Great Value, Casey’s and Every True Tiger, a brand of the University of Missouri.
Palmer Candy was notified of the problem by its liquid coating supplier, who said the products could potentially be contaminated with salmonella.
Salmonella is caused by eating food contaminated with animal feces. It typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that begin between six hours and six days after initial infection, according to the CDC.
Most people recover within days, although the disease is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year.
Production has been suspended while the FDA and Palmer Candy investigate.
Consumers who have purchased any white-coated confectionery items manufactured by Palmer Candy Company are encouraged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
