Health authorities have issued an emergency recall of popular candies sold at Walmart stores in the US over concerns about contamination with a deadly bacteria.
Iowa-based Palmer Candy Company voluntarily recalled its “White Coated Confectionary Items” in early May after it was discovered they may have been contaminated with salmonella, a foodborne illness that infects 1.3 million Americans annually.
Now, health authorities have upgraded the severity of the recall in May, adding a “Class I” status on August 6. This is the most serious category of recalls.
According to the FDA, a “Class I” recall means a “situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use of, or exposure to, a nonconforming product will result in serious adverse health consequences or death.”
According to the FDA, the affected products — mixtures of snack foods such as pretzels, cookies, popcorn and chocolate — were distributed nationwide in Walmart, HyVee, Target and Dollar General stores.
They were also sent to distributors in the following states: Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
According to the FDA, there have been no reports of injuries or illnesses linked to the products.
The potentially harmful candies are coated with a white-looking sugar coating and are sold in various packaging, such as bags, sachets and tubs.
The affected candies were sold under brand names including Palmer Candy, Great Value, Casey’s and Every True Tiger, a brand owned by the University of Missouri.
Palmer Candy was informed of the potential hazard by the supplier of the liquid coating, who said the products could possibly be contaminated with salmonella.
“Palmer Candy Company of Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling its ‘White Coated Confectionary Items’ because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems,” the FDA announced in May.
The products were sold under various brand names, including Walmart’s Great Value
Salmonella is caused by eating food contaminated with animal feces. It typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after initial infection, according to the CDC.
Most people recover within a few days, but the disease is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths each year.
Production has been halted while the FDA and Palmer Candy investigate.
Consumers who purchased Palmer Candy Company white candy items are encouraged to return the items to the store where they made the purchase for a full refund.
