Coated pretzels, cookies, and other products manufactured by Palmer Candy Company could be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, the FDA said Monday

Recall: Sweets Sold at Target, Walmart, Dollar General Pulled From Shelves Due to Salmonella Risk

Coated pretzels, cookies, and other products manufactured by Palmer Candy Company could be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, the FDA said Monday

• A number of white-coated sweets are being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination, according to the FDA and manufacturer Palmer Candy Company.
• The recalled confectionary—which includes candy-coated pretzels, cookies, and snack mixes—were distributed to HyVee, Walmart, Target, and Dollar General stores nationwide.
• No illnesses have been reported, and anyone who thinks they may have purchased one of these products shouldn't eat it, and can return it for a refund.

A range of white-coated confectionary products are being recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Monday.

The possibly-contaminated items—which include white candy-coated pretzels, cookies, and snack mixes—were offered by Walmart, HyVee, Target, and Dollar General nationwide, as well as other distributors in 17 states.

The recalled products were manufactured by Palmer Candy Company and sold under the following brand names:

• Freshness Guaranteed
• Palmer 
• Sweet Smiles
• Snackin’ With The Crew
• Casey’s
• Sconza Chocolates
• Favorite Day Bakery
• Sunny Select
• Urge!
• Kwik Trip Inc.

Palmer Candy Company’s recall spans 29 different products, all of which include some white candy-coated food, mostly pretzels or cookies. The items were sold in a variety of package types, including bags, pouches, and tubs, the company said.

The FDA has listed each recalled item’s accompanying “Best By” date so customers can identify whether the product they’ve purchased falls under the recall. Most of these dates are in late 2024 or early 2025, so consumers may still have them in their pantries. 

If someone has one of these recalled products, they shouldn’t consume them, and can return them to the retailer for a full refund. Customers can also contact the company with questions by calling 1-800-831-0828.

At this point, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the potentially-contaminated sweets.

As for how the products possibly came into contact with Salmonella, Palmer Candy Company said one of its liquid coating suppliers initially alerted them to the potential contamination. One of that company's suppliers warned that an ingredient potentially contained the dangerous bacteria.

Palmer Candy Company has suspended the production of these white candy-coated products, and said they’re working with the FDA to investigate the source of the contamination.

Infections involving Salmonella bacteria are relatively common; according to the FDA, Salmonella bacteria is “the second leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., after norovirus.” An estimated 1.35 million cases of Salmonella infections—called salmonellosis— happen annually.

For most people, these infections lead to diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Symptoms can occur as soon as six hours after a person comes into contact with the bacteria, or they can be as delayed for as long as six days. Salmonellosis illnesses usually last between four and seven days.

However, in some cases, salmonellosis can be serious or even deadly. Young kids, elderly people, and immunocompromised people are more likely to have a severe reaction if they’re infected with Salmonella.

Kids and older people specifically are at a higher risk of developing severe dehydration from days-long diarrhea from Salmonella. They may need to be hospitalized as a result and treated with fluids via an IV.

In rare cases, Salmonella can become invasive, which means the bacteria has spread and caused infections in other body parts. These infections can be severe, involving the joints, bloodstream, brain (also known as meningitis), and more. 

Very rarely, these cases can even be fatal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate there are 26,500 salmonellosis hospitalizations and 420 deaths each year.

This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Julia Landwehr