FDA Assigns Highest Risk Level To These Recalled Chocolate Snacks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now put a handful of recalled chocolate snack products at the agency’s highest risk level due to potential allergen exposure.

On the FDA website, an enforcement report for the week of Jan. 29 said that some snacks made by Cal Yee Farm LLC are under a Class I recall. The agency labels recalled products as Class I when it believes there’s a reasonable probability that consumption or exposure “will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to its website.

In December, Cal Yee Farm LLC, which is based in California’s Suisun Valley, had announced that it was recalling some of its chocolate- and yogurt-covered products due to concern that they may contain undeclared milk, which is an allergen. Those products, sold under the brands Cal Yee’s or Cal Yee Farm, included dark chocolate walnuts, dark chocolate raisins, dark chocolate almonds, yogurt-coated almonds and dark chocolate apricots.

Cal Yee Farm LLC also recalled other snacks, such as mango with chili and hot Cajun sesame sticks, due to possible undeclared milk, soy, wheat, sesame, almonds and FD&C #6, which is a color additive used in foods. (Check here for more details on the company’s nonchocolate snack products that were recalled.)

The company said in December that the products were distributed in California, Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, Ohio and Pennsylvania, both online and in certain retail stores.

No illnesses had been reported, Cal Yee Farm LLC said at the time, adding that it initiated the recall after an FDA inspection of its facility found that “products containing milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6 and almonds were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6 and almonds.”

The recall classification for all of the affected chocolate snack products is Class I. The nonchocolate snack products are either listed under a Class I or a Class II recall. The FDA says it categorizes recalls in its enforcement reports as Class I, Class II, Class III or “not yet classified.” The agency also states on its website that it routinely updates entries in its enforcement reports with a classification once it completes a hazard assessment.

Cal Yee Farm LLC’s recalled chocolate snacks had the following UPCs, or universal product codes: CON0788, for dark chocolate raisins packaged in an 8-ounce container; CON0688, for dark chocolate walnuts packaged in an 8-ounce container; CON0588, for dark chocolate almonds packaged in an 8-ounce container; and CON0188, for dark chocolate apricots sold in a flat or hinged-lid 8-ounce container.

For customers with allergies or sensitivities to any of the undeclared allergens that may be present in the products, the company says that the recalled products should not be consumed. It says that those customers should either discard or return the items for a full refund.

People with a milk allergy have “an atypical immune system response to milk and products containing milk,” according to the Mayo Clinic, which also calls it “one of the most common food allergies in children.”

What To Do About This

If you believe you’ve consumed any of the recalled products, or are just generally concerned about exposure, pay attention to the signs of a potential milk allergy.

While symptoms may vary — and can occur a few minutes or a few hours after exposure ― symptoms may include hives, wheezing, itching, shortness of breath, vomiting, and swelling of the lips, throat or tongue, the Mayo Clinic notes.

Symptoms that may take longer to develop include loose stools or diarrhea (sometimes containing blood), abdominal cramps, watery eyes and a runny nose.

You should see a doctor if you are exhibiting any symptoms of a milk allergy. The Mayo Clinic notes that, in some cases, your doctor may have you try an “elimination diet,” in which you eliminate milk from your diet and then add it back in to check for a reaction.

Your doctor could also refer you to an allergist, who may conduct a blood test or a skin prick test, the Cleveland Clinic states. The allergist might have you perform a graded oral challenge, in which you ingest a small amount of milk while your allergist observes to see if you develop a reaction.

The only way to prevent a milk-related allergic reaction is to completely avoid milk and products with milk, the Cleveland Clinic states.

As always, consult your doctor if you believe you have an allergy, and discuss with them what foods you should avoid.