Chocolate recall upgraded to highest risk level, FDA announces

New York’s Staten Island. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised a chocolate recall from December 2024 to the highest risk level, stating that eating the product could result in fatalities or major negative health effects.

The recall of Cal Yee Farm Dark Chocolate Walnuts, Dark Chocolate Apricots, and Dark Chocolate Almonds has been given a Class I threat level by the FDA.

Several media outlets, including Consumer Affairs.com and Newsweek.com, are reporting the update. The FDA stated that the items include milk, soy, wheat, and sesame—all allergies that are not mentioned on the label.

According to the FDA, consuming milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6 (a synthetic dye that creates an orange or yellow tint), or almonds puts people who are allergic to or extremely sensitive to these foods at risk for a severe or fatal allergic reaction.

California, Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were the main distribution locations for the products. According to the FDA, many of them were given out in fruit baskets that could be purchased online at www.calyeefarm.com.

The recalled products came in 8-ounce, 1-pound, 2-pound, and 5-pound sizes in transparent plastic zipped pouches. The front of the pouch had a bright yellow label that identified the product, and the back of the pouch had a small white label with a UPC code.

Fruit baskets came in a basket with a yellow label on the rear that identified the product. A 6-ounce clear plastic zippered pouch with a white label identifying the product was used to package the Boa Vista Orchard-branded Butter Toffee Almonds.

Following an FDA examination of the company’s manufacturing plant, the manufacturer started the recall.

Consumers who have purchased the impacted items who have allergies or sensitivities to milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6, or almonds should not eat them and should either discard them or return them to the manufacturer for a complete refund.

Customers can reach the manufacturer via phone from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (707) 425-5327 [email protected].