Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Chuao Chocolatier Potato Chip Mini Chocolate Bar recall: Undeclared Hazelnuts

Recall published 2+ years ago

Undeclared Hazelnuts

Chuao Chocolatier Candy & chocolate — recalled candy & chocolateChuao Chocolatier Candy & chocolate — recalled candy & chocolate (photo 2)Chuao Chocolatier Candy & chocolate — recalled candy & chocolate (photo 3)
3 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Undeclared peanuts or tree nuts

This recall is a labelling failure: peanuts or tree nuts is present and the label does not say so. That is harmless to most households and genuinely dangerous to a few.

What the notice says: People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

Why it matters: The label does not declare peanuts or tree nuts, so anyone who reads labels to avoid it has no way of knowing it is in there. For people without that allergy the product is safe to eat.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

An undeclared allergen is a danger only to people allergic or intolerant to that ingredient. For everyone else the food is safe. Reactions range from an itchy mouth, hives, stomach cramps or vomiting through to anaphylaxis — swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, a tight chest, wheezing, a sudden drop in blood pressure or collapse. If anaphylaxis is suspected, use an epinephrine auto-injector straight away and call 911, even if the symptoms seem to settle, because a second wave can follow hours later.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
May 3, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Chuao Chocolatier
Product type
Candy & chocolate
Distribution
Nationwide
UPC codes
872629006615

Products covered by this recall

Potato Chip Mini Chocolate Bar

What the company announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 3, 2024, Chuao Chocolatier is voluntarily recalling a single production of Potato Chip mini bar .39oz/11 gram LOT 4022 because some packages may contain undeclared hazelnut. People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

This recall is limited to one lot code (4022) of the Chuao Chocolatier Potato Chip mini chocolate bar (.39 oz. bar) , which was sold nationwide (excluding HI and AK) in retail stores and online in the United States. No other Chuao Chocolatier products are affected by this recall.

The product being recalled is the following:

  • Product Description: Potato Chip mini bar · Item UPC: 872629006615 · Lot Code & Best by date (found under the flap on the back of packaging.): Best by 22 FEB 25 4022

A picture of the consumer package label is shown below. The label does reference “Manufactured in a facility that uses tree nuts and wheat on shared equipment.”

There has been one reported customer that has experienced a mild allergic reaction to this product.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered hazelnuts were inadvertently added to the product during manufacturing and the lot produced was distributed in packaging that does not reveal the presence of hazelnuts. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by cross contamination on a piece of share equipment.

Consumers who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut should not eat this product and should discard any product they may have. Consumers should contact the company at (760) 814-6230 or [email protected] to get more information about the recall. The customer service line is open 24 hours a day and Consumer Relations specialists are available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 872629006615

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 4022

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 11 gram

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Nuts

Chuao Chocolatier — This recall is a labelling failure: peanuts or tree nuts is present and the label does not say so. That is harmless to most households and genuinely dangerous to a few.

  1. If anyone in your household avoids peanuts or tree nuts, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.
  2. Tell anyone else who eats from your kitchen, including childminders, schools and anyone catering an event you contributed to.
  3. Keep the pack if you want a refund, or photograph the label and the lot code and then bin it. If nobody in the house avoids peanuts or tree nuts, you may simply eat it — the recall is about disclosure, not spoilage.
  4. Make sure the household epinephrine auto-injector is where it should be and in date, if someone here carries one.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut should not eat this product and should discard any product they may have.

Company contact: Chuao Chocolatier — Consumers: (760) 814-6230, [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Chuao Chocolatier candy & chocolate recalled?

Undeclared Hazelnuts People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 872629006615; lot code 4022. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

If anyone in your household avoids peanuts or tree nuts, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut should not eat this product and should discard any product they may have.

Where was the recalled product sold?

It was distributed nationwide.

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