Several candy products previously recalled by Iowa-based company Palmer Candy Company in 17 different states have now been identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Class I recalls—the most-severe type.
The initial recall of the company’s “White Coated Confectionery Items” was initiated by Palmer Candy in early May over the potential contamination with salmonella, a group of bacteria that cause gastrointestinal illness and fever.
A news release by the FDA said the products recalled included Palmer Candy’s Caramel Swirl Pretzel, Classic Yogurt Pretzels, Munchy Medley, Patriotic Pretzels, Frosted Pretzels, Zebra Fudge Cookies, Peanut Butter Snack Mix, and several others. The confectionary items come in different packaging including bags, pouches and tubs.
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The FDA doesn’t always classify a recall at the same time as it issues a news release informing the public of it. In the case of the Palmer Candy’s products, the agency only classified many of the company’s product recalls as Class I on August 6.
The agency has three ways of classifying food recalls. A Class I recall indicates that the consumption or exposure to the affected product can cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
A Class II recall is when the probability of suffering serious adverse health consequences after consuming the affected product is remote, and any adverse health consequences are temporary or medically reversible.
A Class III recall indicates that consumption or exposure to the recalled product is unlikely to cause any adverse health consequences at all.
Palmer Candy issued a recall of its White Coated Confectionery Items after being notified by its liquid coating supplier that there was a potential for contamination with salmonella from an ingredient that was “potentially contaminated from one of the suppliers,” the FDA writes in its news release.
As a result of the recall, production of the product has been suspended while the FDA and Palmer Candy investigate the source of the problem, the agency said.
While most people infected with salmonella would experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, the disease can be extremely serious and even fatal in young children, frail or elderly people and those with a weakened immune system. Only in rare circumstances, according to the FDA, can a salmonella infection result “in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.”
The recalled products have been distributed across the country and in Canada. In the U.S., the confectionary items were sent to Walmart, Hy-Vee, Target, Dollar General and distributors in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the recalled products. Newsweek contacted Palmer County for comment by email on Thursday morning.
