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SAN LEANDRO, Calif. - Ghirardelli Chocolate Company has recalled certain powdered beverage mixes, including its popular hot cocoa, over potential salmonella contamination.
The company’s notice was published on Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Ghirardelli recalls hot cocoa, other products
Big picture view:
The California-based company said it was voluntarily recalling certain powdered beverage mixes because they had the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.
Facade of Ghirardelli chocolate store with logo in San Francisco, California. (Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
The affected beverage mixes were packaged in large formats intended for food service and institutional customers, but some powdered beverage mixes may also have been available for purchase by consumers through online platforms, according to Ghirardelli.
A list of the 13 powdered beverage mixes that were recalled ranged from the 4/2lb. Premium Hot Cocoa Pouch Bulk to the 6/3.12lb White Chocolate Flavored Sweet Ground Powder. You can see the full list of recalled Ghirardelli products here.
Product photos of some of the recalled Ghirardelli beverage mixes. (Credit: FDA)
What they're saying:
"Nothing is more important to us than the safety and quality of our products, and we’re taking this step out of an abundance of caution," the company said in a statement on its website.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
Consumers can return recalled products for refunds
What's next:
Ghirardelli said it has put a material share of impacted powdered beverage mixes on hold at its warehouse facilities and is working with its partners to return or dispose of potentially impacted powdered beverage mixes distributed to customers who have been informed of the recall.
The company said consumers who purchased one of the recalled powdered beverage mixes may contact Ghirardelli Chocolate Company directly at 1-844-776-0419 for instructions on returns and receiving a replacement or refund.
Consumers who believe they’ve consumed an impacted product should also fill out the Contact Us form on its website, and a consumer service team will reach out.
Action follows milk powder recall
The backstory:
This action follows a California Dairies, Inc. milk powder recall, which also had concerns of potential Salmonella contamination, which was supplied to a third-party manufacturer and used as an ingredient in powdered beverage mixes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella are bacteria (germs) that can make people sick. Contaminated food is the source for most of these illnesses.
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The CDC estimates salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company and the FDA. This story was reported from Los Angeles.