This Massive Chocolate Recall Was Just Expanded Ahead of Easter — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

As Easter approaches, one of the biggest chocolate recalls in recent memory has been expanded. The recall affects a variety of chocolate products from a number of different brands, including some of the most popular Easter treats. If you’re planning to buy chocolate for Easter, it’s important to be aware of the recall and make sure you’re not buying any of the affected products. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the recall and explain what you need to know to make sure you’re not buying any of the recalled products.

This Massive Chocolate Recall Was Just Expanded Ahead of Easter — Eat This Not That

It’s a chocolate lover’s worst nightmare: a massive recall of popular Easter treats. On March 24, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the company, Ferrara Candy Company, is voluntarily recalling select lots of its Brach’s Classic Jelly Bird Eggs due to the potential presence of Salmonella.

The recall affects the 10-ounce packages of the candy, which were sold in stores nationwide. The affected packages have a best-by date of April 4, 2021, and a UPC code of 0 414200 04420.

The recall was initiated after the company received a positive test result for Salmonella from a retail sample. The FDA is currently investigating the source of the contamination.

The recall is an expansion of a previous recall of the same product, which was issued on March 17. The recall was expanded to include additional lots of the candy.

The FDA is advising consumers to not eat the recalled candy and to throw it away or return it to the store where it was purchased. Consumers who have eaten the recalled candy and are experiencing symptoms of Salmonella infection, such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, should seek medical attention.

This is not the first time Ferrara Candy Company has had to recall its products. In 2019, the company recalled select lots of its Brach’s Milk Chocolate Covered Caramels due to the potential presence of Salmonella.

If you’re looking for a safe alternative to the recalled candy, there are plenty of other Easter treats to choose from. From healthy Easter treats to homemade Easter treats, there are plenty of options that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

With Easter fast approaching, news recently surfaced surrounding the recall of two different Kinder products in the United States. The brand’s producer, Ferrero, voluntarily recalled both the Happy Moments Chocolate Assortment and the Mix Chocolate Treats Basket due to risks of salmonella contamination, just days before the major chocolate holiday.

Although no illnesses have been reported in the U.S., sweets distributed across several stores in the country were made in the same Belgium facility linked to at least 142 European Salmonella cases. Additional Kinder products from the plant were recalled in Europe. When the U.S. recall was first announced, the company emphasized that these were the only two affected products that were produced for U.S. distribution.

But the company just revealed that the presence of other contaminated Kinder treats is possible in the United States. 

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“There may be Kinder branded products currently for sale in the U.S. that are intended for foreign markets and unauthorized for sale in the U.S.,” Ferrero North America’s appended press release, issued on April 12, states.

These unauthorized products could be a part of the larger recall in Europe which also included Kinder Surprise, Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Surprise Maxi 100g, and Kinder Schokobons—a few of the brand’s most popular selections.

The confectionery company is urging American consumers to check their Kinder products to ensure they were distributed by Ferrero U.S.A. and are therefore safe for consumption. All chocolates authorized for sale in the U.S. have the following label included on the back of the packaging which was provided in the FDA’s news statement:

EXCL. DIST. FERRERO U.S.A., INC.

PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054

If this description is not included on Kinder products sold in the United States, Ferrero advises to “dispose of it immediately.” The chocolate manufacturer is continuing to work with the FDA to address this now expanded issue and to keep consumers up to date with the latest information.

“Ferrero deeply regrets this situation,” said the company’s U.S.A. division in its announcement. “We take food safety extremely seriously and every step we have taken has been guided by our commitment to consumer care.”

These chocolate items aren’t the only ones you should watch out for during your next shopping trip. These Two Easter Items Won’t Be On Grocery Shelves This Year.