Chocolate covered-fruits and nuts are being recalled in nine states over fears they could 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 mix and dried mangos.
Inspectors from the FDA found the products contained substances not mentioned on the products’ labels, including milk, wheat, sesame, soy and coloring agent Yellow 6, all of which could trigger a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
The products were sold in clear zippered pouches featuring a bright yellow label on the front that said ‘Cal Yee Farm.’
They could be purchased by customers either from the farm’s main retail store in Suisun Valley, California, or via farm stands and shops in nine other states.
No illnesses from the chocolates, nuts or fruit products have been reported to date.
In its alert, the FDA advised consumers to throw out 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 run the risk of 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 mix and dried mangos (The mango with chili above is included in the recall, but the pretzels are not)
The recalled products were sold in clear zippered pouches featuring a bright yellow label on the front that said ‘Cal Yee Farm’
The products were sold in either 8oz, 1lb, 2lb or 5lb sizes. A full list of the recalled products was published by the FDA.
They include dark chocolate walnuts, butter toffee almonds, yogurt-covered almonds, tropical trail mix, dark chocolate raisins, mango with chili, Cajun Sesame Hot Sticks, New Orleans Hot Mix, two types of fruit baskets and dark chocolate apricots.
The nine states where they are being recalled are: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
But officials warned the products were also sold online, so may also be available in other states.
About 33million Americans have an allergy to at least one food, estimates suggest.
Among them, 6.2million have a milk allergy; 2.4million have an allergy to wheat; 1.9million are allergic to soy.
Allergic reactions are triggered when the immune system misidentifies a food as a threat, triggering a potentially life-threatening response.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rashes on the skin, wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath and an itching or tingling sensation in the mouth and lips.
Within minutes of consuming the foods, people could also suffer from anaphylaxis — a severe, life-threatening reaction.
In this, the immune system releases chemicals that cause the blood vessels to expand and the airways to constrict.
This can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure and fluid leaking into the lungs, potentially causing death.
Patients can treat mild reactions via taking antihistamines or applying a cold compress to reduce the symptoms.
But in a serious reaction, like anaphylaxis, they should be rushed to the hospital immediately. Patients suffering from a serious reaction can get an epinephrine injection, which works to calm the immune system.