The supermarket retailer ALDI announced the voluntary recall of a chocolate candy that is packaged similarly to M&Ms.
“As a precautionary measure, our supplier is recalling Dairyfine Crispy Choc Um's because it may contain peanuts,” ALDI company leaders said in the Oct. 31 customer notice.
ALDI urged customers who purchased the treat to return it to their nearest store to receive a full refund.
“We apologize that this product did not meet our normal high standards and thank you for your co-operation,” company leaders added.
The undeclared presence of peanuts is concerning for people who are allergic to peanuts because exposure can cause a life-threatening immune system overreaction called anaphylaxis.
There are nine major food allergens that the FDA requires all companies to identify in their products. They include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
“While the increased availability and consumption of nuts have health benefits, it may also increase the risk of accidental consumption in those who are allergic to nuts, which is why declaring the presence of nuts in packaged foods is essential,” consultant allergist and physician Stephanie Kayode told NTD.
Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, hazel nuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts are all considered tree nuts by the FDA.
New research supports a previous study's determinations that preventing a life-threatening peanut allergy is as easy as feeding the crunchy snack to children when they are babies.
In 2015, parents were advised to introduce the allergen to babies as young as 4 months old, and since then, the rate of peanut allergies in children up to 3 years old declined more than 27 percent and by more than 40 percent when the guidance was enhanced in 2017.
“It doesn’t have to be a lot of the food, but little tastes of peanut butter, milk-based yogurt, soy-based yogurts and tree butters,” Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia allergist and study author Dr. David Hill said about early exposure to peanuts. “These are really good ways to allow the immune system exposure to these allergenic foods in a safe way.”