Not So Sweet: The FDA Recalls Dozens of Candy Products Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Before stocking up on sweet treats for movie night, make sure your confectionary selections are up to code. Following an initial recall in May of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has moved a range of white confectionary products sold nationwide to a Class 1 recall for salmonella contamination. To learn more about the impacted products and what you should do, keep reading!

Inside the FDA candy recall over salmonella concerns

On August 6, the FDA reclassified several “White Coated Confectionery Items” from Palmer Candy Company — previously recalled in May of this year — as Class I recalls, the highest level of risk, for potential salmonella contamination.

A Class I recall indicates a “reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to the FDA’s official website .

The salmonella contamination risk was traced to an ingredient that was potentially contaminated from one of their suppliers, according to Palmer Candy’s liquid coating supplier .

The products possibly infected with salmonella were distributed at retailers  in  17 states – Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming – and sold  at retailers like Walmart, Hy-Vee, Target, and Dollar General.

Included on the FDA’s official recall list are popular Palmer Candy items such as Caramel Swirl Pretzels, Classic Yogurt Pretzels and Zebra Fudge Cookies. The full list of recalled items can be found here, on the FDA’s website .

The FDA further informed customers that impacted products can come “in a variety of retail packaging like bags, pouches and tubs,” and warned potential consumers to return all items to the place of purchase.

According to the FDA, there are no reported injuries or illnesses connected to the products. Nevertheless, since May, Palmer Candy Company has suspended the production of the recalled products.

What is salmonella

Salmonella infection, or "salmonellosis," is a bacteria that causes health risks including diarrhea, fever and stomach pains in infected patients.

Salmonella contamination occurs most commonly during the processing and handling stage of food production . Past U.S. outbreaks of salmonellosis have been associated with poultry products, raw or undercooked eggs and dough, dairy products and some vegetables .

Those infected with salmonellosis will likely begin to develop symptoms within 12 to 72 hours of infection. Sickness typically lasts four to seven days and most people will recover without treatment.

High risk individuals include young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. If symptoms persist after seven days and/or increase in severity, reach out to your healthcare provider.

How to prevent salmonella contamination

Practice safe food preparation in your kitchen

Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after cooking. If you are preparing raw meats, especially poultry items, make sure to properly disinfect your cooking tools and surfaces after use. For vegetables, ensure you wash them thoroughly before adding them to a dish.

The temperature at which you cook and store food matters!

Food thermometers are a great way to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs . When storing refrigerated leftovers, be sure to store them in sealed containers within 2 hours.

If you are infected, do not handle food

If you are experiencing salmonella-related symptoms such as diarrhea, do not handle, prepare, or cook foods for yourself or others until you are symptom-free for over 24 hours.

Keep your distance from salmonella-carrying animals

Salmonella can spread from animals to humans and the bacteria is especially common among pet turtles, lizards, chickens, hedgehogs and guinea pigs. To stay safe, don’t kiss these animals and be sure to wash your hands after petting them.

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