A variety of popular sweets have been recalled in California due to concerns about contamination with deadly bacteria.
Yogurt covered pretzels sold in major regional stores including Gelson’s, Down Home Goods, Thorp Fruit and Smart and Final are thought to carry traces of salmonella – a deadly foodborne bacteria that affects 1.3 million Americans every year.
The potentially harmful sweet snacks are produced by both the stores themselves and the confectionary firm, First Street.
No illnesses have been reported.
The announcement, by the FDA, comes days after Iowa-based Palmer Candy Company urgently recalled its ‘White Coated Confectionary Items’ due to salmonella risk.
The affected products were sold at Gelson’s stores in California under the same brand name
They were also sold under the First Street brand name
The candied pretzels are covered in a sweet yogurt coating that appears white and is packaged in clear tubs.
The company was made aware of the risk via a routine sampling program by the yogurt coating supplier. This revealed that the finished products contained salmonella bacteria.
Salmonella is caused by eating foods 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 days, though the illness is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year.
Western Mixers Produce & Nuts has stopped production and distribution of affected products while the company and the FDA investigate.
Health officials urge those with affected products to discard them.
