California among the states these recalled Palmer candies, snacks were distributed to

Dozens of candies and snacks distributed nationwide and to wholesalers in California previously recalled saw its classification get upped to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s highest level of recall.

Palmer Candy Company of Sioux City, Iowa, recalled in May its “white-coated confectionary items,” sweets and snacks such as yogurt-coated pretzels and peanut butter snack mix, due to potential salmonella contamination.

The Iowa-based candy company was notified by its liquid coating supplier about this due to an ingredient that was potentially contaminated by one of their suppliers, according to an announcement from Palmer Candy Company. These items have best-by dates through the end of this year and into 2025.

The recalled items were distributed nationwide in Walmart, Hy-Vee, Target, Dollar General stores and to distributors in over a dozen states, including California.

The FDA upgraded the recall to a Class I level last week, first reported by Consumer Affairs .

What is a Class I recall?

The FDA defines a Class I recall as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

What Palmer Candy items have been recalled?

If you’ve purchased a recalled item, you can return it to where you purchased it for a full refund, according to the company. People with questions can contact the company at 1-800-831-0828 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here’s which products are part of the recall and their best-by dates:

• Caramel Swirl Pretzels 4oz: 12/18/24-12/28/2024
• Caramel Swirl Pretzels  6oz: 12/19/24, 12/20/24 and 1/19/25
• Classic Yogurt Pretzels 28#: 12/11/24 - 1/8/25
• Cookies & Cream Yummy Chow 14#: 12/6/24 - 1/23/25
• Drizzled Caramel Corn 5oz: 1/22/25
• Drizzled Caramel Corn Snack Mix Bowl 12oz: 1/22/25
• Enrobed Pretzel Rods 8oz: 1/22/25
• Favorite Day Bakery White Fudge Mini Cookies 7oz: 4/4/25, 4/5/25, 4/15/25, 4/18/25
• Frosted Munchy Medley Bowl 15oz: 1/3/25
• Frosted Patriot Frosted Pretzels 28#: 1/2/25, 1/3/25
• Frosted Pretzels 6oz: 1/23/25
• Munchy Medley 15#: 12/14/24, 1/3/25
• Munchy Medley 4oz: 12/25/24-12/28/24 and 1/19/25
• Munchy Medley 6oz: 12/20/24
• Munchy Medley To Go 4oz: 12/25/24, 1/19/25
• Patriotic Munchy Medley Bowl 15oz: 1/19/25
• Patriotic Pretzels 14oz: 1/25/25, 1/26/25
• Patriotic Pretzels 6oz: 1/19/25
• Patriotic Red, White & Blue Pretzel Twists 14oz: 12/13/24 - 1/15/25
• Patriotic Snack Mix 13oz: 1/19/25, 1/22/25 and 2/1/25
• Patriotic Snack Mix 7oz: 4/23/25, 4/24/25
• Patriotic White Fudge Cookies 13.5oz: 4/22/25
• Peanut Butter Snack Mix 12oz: 11/13/24 - 12/15/24
• Peanut Butter Snack Mix To Go 4.5oz: 1/18/25
• Snackin’ With the Crew! Mizzou Munchy Medley 7oz: 12/18/24, 12/19/24
• Snackin’ With the Crew! Tiger Treats 7oz: 12/18/24, 12/19/24
• Star Snacks Chow Down 25#: 12/6/24, 12/7/24
• Strawberry Yogurt Coated Pretzels 10oz: 1/5/25, 1/23/25
• Sweet Smiles Yogurt Covered Pretzels 3.25oz: 12/18/24 - 1/4/25
• Vanilla Yogurt Covered Pretzels 10oz: 12/18/24, 1/5/25, 1/22/25
• Yogurt Pretzel 14#: 12/14/24 - 12/21/24
• Zebra Fudge Cookies 7oz: 3/20/25-4/30/25

What is salmonella? What are salmonella symptoms?

Salmonella are bacteria that cause an illness called salmonellosis, though other types of salmonella cause typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever, according to the CDC . The bacteria are in the intestines of people, animals and birds, according to the Mayo Clinic .

People in America with typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever most often were infected due to travel in places where water and food can be unsafe and where sanitation may be poor, according to the CDC.

People contract salmonellosis through contaminated water or food and while some people have no symptoms, most will experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within 8 to 72 hours after exposure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Other symptoms are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Headache
• Blood in the stool

While most healthy people will recover within a few days to weeks, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and require immediate medical attention, said the Mayo Clinic. If the infection spreads beyond the intestines, life-threatening complications can develop.

USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider contributed to this article.

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California among the states these recalled Palmer candies, snacks were distributed to