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A California snack company recalled chocolate and other products last month. Now, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has given some of those products a Class I classification, the agency’s highest risk level.
Solano County-based Cal Yee Farm’s products, including Dark Chocolate Almonds, Dark Chocolate Apricots, and Dark Chocolate Walnuts, are now a Class I classification, meaning consuming these products could cause life-threatening reactions.
The products were recalled due to undeclared milk, soy, wheat, sesame, synthetic dye, and almonds that could lead to allergic reactions, according to an announcement the company shared through the FDA.
Here is what you need to know about the Class I classification.
What does a Class I recall mean?
According to the FDA, a Class 1 classification is a scenario where there’s a significant likelihood that using or being exposed to a non-compliant product will result in severe health outcomes or even death.
Last month, the FDA announced a recall for multiple Cal Yee Farm products, including chocolate and yogurt-covered products such as Dark Chocolate Walnuts, Raisins, Almonds, Yogurt-Coated Almonds, dark Chocolate Apricots, Tropical Trail Mix, and Butter Toffee.
Per the FDA’s website, classifications include:
- Class I – The use of or exposure to a product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
- Class II – The use of or exposure to a product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
- Class III – The use of or exposure to a product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
Which Cal Yee Farm products were affected?
Cal Yee Farm LLC started the recall process when the FDA inspected its facility and found that snacks containing milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6 and almonds were sold in packaging that weren’t properly labeled.
Class I:
- 8 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Yogurt Coated Almonds (UPC: YOG0188) – contains milk
- 8 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Dark Chocolate Almonds (UPC: CON0588) – contains milk
- 8 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Dark Chocolate Raisins (UPC: CON0788) – contains milk
- 8 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Dark Chocolate Walnuts (UPC: CON0688) – contains milk
- 8 ounce flat container of Cal Yee Farm’s Dark Chocolate Apricots (UPC: CON0188) – contains milk
- 8 ounce hinged lid container of Cal Yee’s Dark Chocolate Apricots (UPC: CON0188) – contains milk
- 1 pound container of Cal Yee’s Yogurt Coated Almonds (UPC: YOG0101) – contains milk
- 8 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Tropical Trail Mix (UPC: TRM0488) – contains milk (in raisin coating)
- 1 pound container of Cal Yee’s Tropical Trail Mix (UPC: TRM0401) – contains milk (in raisin coating)
- 2 pound container of Cal Yee’s Tropical Trail Mix (UPC: TRM0402) – contains milk (in raisin coating)
- 5 pound container of Cal Yee’s Tropical Trail Mix (UPC: TRM0405) – contains milk (in raisin coating)
- 1 pound container of Cal Yee’s Cajun Sesame Hot Sticks (UPC: SES0501) – contains wheat, sesame and soy
- 1 pound container of Cal Yee’s New Orleans Hot Mix (UPC: TRM0601) – contains wheat, sesame and soy
Class II:
- 8 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Butter Toffee Almonds (UPC: ALM2588) – contains milk (from butter)
- 1 pound container of Cal Yee’s Butter Toffee Almonds (UPC: ALM2501) – contains milk (from butter)
- Boa Vista Orchards’ Butter Toffee Almonds (no UPC listed) – contains milk (from butter)
- 8 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Mango with Chili (UPC: MAN0488) – contains FD&C Yellow #6
- 1 pound container of Cal Yee’s Mango with Chili (UPC: MAN0401) – contains FD&C Yellow #6
- 50 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Fruit Basket 2909 (UPC: BAS2909) – contains almonds (in date nut coconut rolls)
- 50 ounce container of Cal Yee’s Fruit Basket 2921 (UPC: BAS2921) – contains almonds (in date nut coconut rolls)
Cal Yee Farm products sold in California, several other US states
Cal Yee Farm products are sold in California, Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, Ohio, and Pennsylvania through the company’s retail store at 5158 Clayton Road in Suisun Valley. The products were also sold online through www.calyeefarm.com.
What can cause an undeclared food allergen?
According to the University of Georgia Extension Food Science and Technology, undeclared allergens can happen in the following ways:
- Mislabeling of products or allergen cross-contact during processing.
- An incorrect label is put on a food package and sold, or an allergen is not declared in an ingredient statement.
- Factories that produce various products run the risk of cross-contaminating allergens into unintended items.
For example, a product containing wheat can be run after a gluten-free product on the same line but not before a gluten-free product without the line being closed, thoroughly cleaned, and tested for allergenic food residue post-cleaning.
What should customers do if they have a recalled product in their home?
According to the FDA, If consumers have an allergy or sensitivity to milk, they should not consume the product and discard it immediately.
Customers can contact the manufacturer at (707) 425-5327 or [email protected] between 8 a.m. Pacific time and 4:30 p.m. Pacific time Monday through Friday.
It’s good to be aware if you recently purchased a recalled product. There are steps to follow if you do have these products in your home. According to FoodSafety.gov, here is what you should do.
- Don’t panic: Most food recalls are not directly linked to an outbreak of foodborne illness. Instead, many recalls are initiated due to the potential risk of contamination in the food product. In such cases, food manufacturers often issue a recall as a preventive measure to safeguard consumers.
- Don’t eat the food or consume the drug: To ensure your safety, do not consume any recalled food products. Always prioritize caution over convenience. Additionally, refrain from donating the recalled food to food banks or providing it to your pets, as they are also susceptible to food poisoning.
- Don’t open the food: To prevent foodborne illnesses, avoid opening and inspecting food. Bacteria and viruses responsible for such illnesses are invisible, odorless, and tasteless. If you handle the product, thoroughly cleanse your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds afterward.
- Check the recall notice to find out what to do with the food: When a manufacturer recalls food product, specific instructions are provided regarding its handling. These instructions generally entail one of the following actions: Return the product to the original store of purchase for a refund. Safely dispose of the product to prevent consumption by humans or animals, particularly if tithas been opened.
— USA TODAY reporter Saleen Martin contributed to this report.
