Recall Roundup

Recalls are meant to protect consumers from products that may cause injury, illness or even death. Food and drug products are often recalled to remove them from the marketplace because there’s reason to believe they may be defective, adulterated, contaminated, misbranded or mislabeled.

This article outlines recent recalls of products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Skittles, Starburst and Life Savers Gummies

On May 13, Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S. LLC recalled certain varieties of Skittles Gummies, Starburst Gummies and Life Savers Gummies because of the potential presence of very thin metal strands embedded in the gummies or loose in the bags. Various types of gummies and product bag sizes are involved in the recall.

The company received reports from consumers alerting them about this matter, but they are not aware of any illnesses to date.

Jif Peanut Butter

On May 20, the J.M. Smucker Co. recalled a wide range of Jif peanut butter products due to potential salmonella contamination. The recalled peanut butter was distributed nationwide in retail stores and other outlets.

Recalled goods include products with lot codes 1274425 to 2140425. These numbers are included alongside the best-if-used-by date. Consumers should dispose of the affected product immediately.

Numerous companies have issued recalls of products containing Jif peanut butter. A complete peanut butter-related recall list is available online.

Salmonella are bacteria that cause intestinal illness. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. An infection is likely caused by salmonella if symptoms begin six hours to six days after suspected ingestion and if those symptoms last four to seven days.

Most people recover without treatment, but the infection may be severe for some and spread from the intestines to the bloodstream. Regardless of severity, it’s essential to seek medical attention for possible salmonella infection.

Undeclared Ingredients

The following recalls revolved around undeclared ingredients in food and beverages:

• Undeclared milk in vegan chocolate products (Pimlico Confectioners, Keats London)
• Undeclared tree nuts in chocolate candy products (Bee)
• Undeclared peanuts in Valencia almonds (Matiz)
• Undeclared gluten in Keto Living Sugar Control capsules (NaturesPlus)
• Undeclared milk in cheese-filled pierogis (Grandma’s Cuisine, Bernat’s, Golden Eagle)
• Undeclared tree nuts (cashews and pistachios) in Oat Milk Brown Sugar Chunk nondairy frozen dessert (Van Leeuwen)
• Undeclared peanuts in Planet Oat Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Planet Oat Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl nondairy frozen dessert (Planet Oat)
• Undeclared soy in Smokey BBQ Bacon Jam and Spicy Chili Bacon Jam (Mrs. Miller’s Homemade Jams)
• Undeclared egg in Fresh Garden Spiral Pasta Salad (Dierbergs Markets)
• Undeclared wheat and soy in wild Alaskan cooked and smoked salmon (White Cane Sockeye Salmon LLC)
• Undeclared tree nuts (cashews) and soy allergens in spinach artichoke parmesan dip (Blue Moose)
• Undeclared almonds in Canadian vanilla ice cream (Red Button Vintage Creamery)

People who have allergies to these undeclared ingredients run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products.

For More Information

This article provides only a highlight of recalls, so visit the FDA’s website for a complete and current list of recalls and safety alerts.

If you believe you have purchased a recalled item, you should dispose of the product and not consume it. Typically, you should be able to return the affected product to the retail location where it was purchased for a full refund or exchange.