Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is pulling a range of its powdered beverage mixes from the market after the products were potentially exposed to Salmonella—a bacterial infection that can prove fatal for vulnerable populations.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), San Leandro, California-based Ghirardelli announced the recall on Monday, with the agency publishing the recall the following day. The recall stems from a separate recall by California Dairies, Inc., which flagged one of its milk powder products for possible Salmonella contamination. That milk powder had been supplied to a third-party manufacturer and used as an ingredient in Ghirardelli's powdered beverage mixes.
The affected products are packaged in large formats designed for food service and institutional customers—like coffee shops, restaurants, and cafeterias—but according to Ghirardelli, some of the recalled mixes may have also reached individual consumers when purchased from online retailers.
The lineup of recalled products includes 30-pound bags of Chocolate Flavored Frappe and Classic White Frappe; bulk pouches of Premium Hot Cocoa; and multiple varieties of sweet ground powders and frappe mixes in 6-count cases, including Chocolate & Cocoa Sweet Ground Powder, White Chocolate Flavored Sweet Ground Powder, Vanilla Frappe Mix, Chocolate Flavored Frappe Mix, Classic White Frappe Mix, White Mocha Frappe Mix, Mocha Frappe Mix, and Frozen Hot Cocoa Frappe Mix.
Ten-pound bags of Chocolate Flavored Frappe Mix and Classic White Frappe Mix are also included. Best-by dates on the affected lots range from May 2027 through January 2028.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled beverage mixes as of the announcement date.
Most healthy adults recover on their own within a few days to a week. The illness poses a more serious threat to infants, young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. In severe cases, the bacteria can escape the intestinal tract and enter the bloodstream—a condition known as bacteremia—potentially infecting the heart lining, brain tissue, bones, or urinary system. Reactive arthritis, sometimes called Reiter's syndrome, is another possible complication.
Anyone in a high-risk group should seek out medical attention if symptoms persist beyond a few days, are accompanied by high fever or bloody stools, or appear to be causing dehydration—signs of which include dark urine, dry mouth, and urinating less than normal, the clinic notes.
Consumers who believe they may have purchased any of the recalled products are encouraged to check lot numbers printed on the packaging against the full list published on the FDA's website. According to Ghirardelli, customers with questions can reach the company's consumer line at 1-844-776-0419, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.