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FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Contact:
Chuck Wilts
1-248-486-0055
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- June 14, 2004 -- GKI Foods Inc. recalls Milk Chocolate English Almond Butter Toffee, Jumbo English Almond Butter Toffee, and Gourmet Sugar Free Almond Butter Toffee, because of possible health risk. The products were distributed under the following brand/Company Names:
Product: Milk Chocolate English Almond Butter Toffee
Company Names: National Bulk Foods – Taylor, MI, J Sosnick & Sons – South San Francisco, CA, Mrs. Carrol’s – Northbrook, IL, Redstone Foods – Dallas, TX, Garvey Nut Company – Commerce, CA, & Produce Station – Ann Arbor, MI.
Product: Jumbo English Almond Butter Toffee
Company Names: National Bulk Foods – Taylor , MI & Redstone Foods – Dallas , TX .
Product: Gourmet Sugar Free Almond Butter Toffee
Company Names: National Bulk Foods – Taylor , MI , J Sosnick & Sons – South San Francisco , CA , Mrs. Carrol’s – Northbrook , IL , Redstone Foods – Dallas, TX, Garvey Nut Company – Commerce, CA, City Nut & Candy Inc. – Hollywood , FL , & Natural Foods – Toledo , OH.
This press release is in follow up to the May 26th Press Release issued by GKI to provide additional information to include brand names and lot codes.
GKI Foods Inc.of Brighton, Michigan is recalling the above products, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstance, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
This recall is in follow-up to a voluntary recall announced in mid-May by Paramount Farms of California of whole and diced raw almonds based on over 20 possible cases of illnesses associated with the almonds. GKI Foods is recalling the subject toffee as it was manufactured with diced almonds received from Paramount and subject to their recall.
The recalled toffee products were initially distributed in Michigan , California , Texas , Illinois , Florida , and Ohio . They were further distributed into the retail chain through distributors that service the retail sector. Therefore the products may have been distributed in other states that are not listed above.
The above products are normally displayed in bulk form and/or 8 oz. tubs and contain a julian code date that consists of four numbers. The recalled products will have a julian code date of ranging from 2363( Aug 23, 2003 ) through 0904(March 30, 2004). The recalled products were packaged under the following names:
Product: Milk Chocolate English Almond Butter Toffee
Company Names: National Bulk Foods, J Sosnick & Sons, Mrs. Carrol’s, Redstone Foods, Garvey Nut Company, & Produce Station.
Code dates: 3533,3453,3423,3253,3103,2973,2933,2793,2763,& 2113.
Product: Jumbo English Almond Butter Toffee
Company Names: National Bulk Foods & Redstone Foods
Code dates: 3243,2963,& 2563.
Product: Gourmet Sugar Free Almond Butter Toffee
Company Names: National Bulk Foods, J Sosnick & Sons, Mrs. Carrol’s, Redstone Foods, Garvey Nut Company, City Nut & Candy Inc., & Natural Foods.
Code dates: 3543,3423,3283,2963,2973,2793,2953,2873,2683,2523, & 0904.
GKI Foods Inc. has 11,000 lbs of product that may be affected.
Anyone having product with these code dates should return the product to the retailer where it was purchased, for a full refund.
It is important to note that this recall is based on epidemiological data. GKI Foods Inc has had no reported illnesses related to consumption of the subject toffee to date and no salmonella has been isolated in our plant.
May, 26 2004 – GKI Foods Inc is currently cooperating with the proper local governmental authorities as part of the investigation surrounding the Paramount Farms recall of natural raw almonds. We, along with Paramount Farms, are taking a proactive and aggressive approach to recovering the affected product in order to assure the safety and well-being of our customers, as well as to avoid any possible confusion about the safety of these products. Any questions from the media related to the Paramount recall should be directed to Chris Tuffli , Director of Communications , Paramount Farms in Los Angeles at (310)966-5731.Questions specifically related to the investigation can be directed to the FDA’s Consumer Inquiries Hotline at 888-INFO-FDA. Consumers who have questions about the recall may call Paramount Farms toll-free hotline at 800-496-5168 ( US ).
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Complete list of Almond Recalls