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Nationwide Chocolate Recall : Hidden Allergens, Stones Prompt Urgent Pulls

NEW YORK—June 21, 2025
Shoppers across America are scrambling to check their pantries after four major chocolate recalls swept stores this week. From undeclared milk threatening allergic consumers to dangerous stones lurking in premium bars, the alerts span multiple brands and states—forcing retailers to yank products off shelves and leaving families on high alert.

Weaver Nut’s Milk Allergy Crisis

Pennsylvania-based Weaver Nut Company ignited the wave, recalling its popular semi-sweet chocolate nonpareils coated in festive “Christmas seeds” or classic white seeds. The treats, sold nationwide in grocery stores, contain undeclared milk proteins that could trigger life-threatening reactions in those with dairy allergies. The company traced the error to a labeling failure discovered after a wholesale customer flagged inconsistencies. Lab tests later confirmed milk contamination in products labeled as dairy-free.

“People with milk sensitivity risk serious harm if they eat these,” the company warned. No illnesses have been reported yet, but consumers are urged to discard or return bags with specific lot codes like 204206 (Christmas seeds) or 204214 (white seeds) for full refunds.

Lipari Foods and Tony’s Chocolonely Join Alert

Within days, Michigan’s Lipari Foods pulled its JLM Dark Chocolate Nonpareils after Weaver Nut’s discovery revealed similar risks. The 14-ounce plastic tubs, marked with lot numbers including 28202501A, were distributed nationally.

Meanwhile, ethical chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely faced a different nightmare: stones in its bars. The company voluntarily recalled seven lots of its Dark Almond Sea Salt and Everything Bars after 12 consumers reported finding small rocks in products—traced to unfiltered almonds during third-party processing. Though no injuries occurred, the FDA classified it as a “Class II risk,” noting potential for temporary injury. Bars with codes like 163094 (Almond Sea Salt) or 4331 (Everything Bar) are affected.

Cal Yee Farm’s High-Risk Multi-Allergen Recall

The most severe alert came from California’s Cal Yee Farm, where an FDA inspection uncovered chocolate and yogurt-covered snacks with six undeclared allergens—milk, soy, wheat, sesame, almonds, and artificial dye FD&C #6. Distributed across nine states including Texas and Ohio, the mislabeled products prompted the FDA’s rare “Class I” designation, meaning consumption could cause “serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Why This Matters

  • Allergens Kill: Milk allergies affect 6.6 million Americans, risking anaphylaxis from trace exposure.
  • Stones Cause Injury: Foreign objects can shatter teeth or block airways.
  • Label Trust Eroded: Each recall highlights gaps in food safety checks.

What Shoppers Must Do

  1. Check Your Chocolate: Scan pantry items for recalled lot codes.
  2. Don’t Eat Suspicious Products: Return them for refunds or dispose immediately.
  3. Contact Brands: Weaver Nut (717-738-3781), Tony’s (503-388-5990), or Lipari offer assistance.
  4. Monitor FDA Updates: New recalls may emerge as investigations continue.

The Bigger Picture

These recalls expose a fractured supply chain. Third-party suppliers (like Tony’s almond processor) and rushed relabeling (at Cal Yee Farm) created avoidable risks. For parents like San Diego nurse Lena Torres, who found recalled nonpareils in her child’s lunchbox, the fear is personal: “One bite could’ve put my son in the ER. How did this happen?”

As summer gatherings ramp up, the FDA urges extra vigilance. “When in doubt,” says food safety director Tessa Simmons, “throw it out.” For an industry built on joy, these bitter episodes are a wake-up call.