BIG RECALL: Chocolate Dessert Recall Sparks Warning in 22 States
According to Newsweek, A labeling issue has led to the recall of a dark chocolate gelato dessert distributed in 22 states. The Fresh Market announced this week that “Petrini Belgian Dark Chocolate Gelato,” produced by Heinlein Foods USA Inc., was recalled because the product may have the “wrong back label/ingredient listing.”
In a notice posted on its website, The Fresh Market advised, “Guests who have purchased this product should discard it.” The notice also offered customers the option to bring in their purchase receipt to any Fresh Market location for a full refund. The company expressed its apologies for the inconvenience caused by the recall.
The Fresh Market operates stores across several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
A representative from Heinlein Foods informed Newsweek that the recall was triggered when a worker accidentally placed a label intended for strawberry sorbet on the back of the dark chocolate gelato. This incorrect label featured a “dairy free” stamp, despite the chocolate gelato containing milk, which could lead to severe allergic reactions for individuals with dairy allergies.
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The representative clarified that only 55 boxes of the gelato were affected and had been removed from distribution. As of the time of publication, no reactions related to the product had been reported.
While the presence of an unexpected ingredient like milk may not pose serious health risks for most consumers, those with dairy allergies could face the life-threatening condition of anaphylaxis if they consume milk.
Anaphylaxis necessitates immediate medical attention and can result in symptoms such as throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Other serious allergic reactions may include rashes, hives, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping.
Milk is classified as one of the nine “major food allergens” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The other major allergens include eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and soybeans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 6 percent of American adults and 8 percent of children have at least one food allergy.
In addition to allergies, milk can pose risks for those with lactose intolerance, which is the inability to properly digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products.
Individuals with lactose intolerance may use lactase supplements, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, to prevent symptoms when consuming dairy products. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and abdominal pain, according to the National Institutes of Health. If untreated, lactose intolerance can lead to long-term health issues by impairing calcium and vitamin D absorption.