RECALL UPDATE: Chocolate Dessert Recall Sparks Warning in 22 States
A dark chocolate gelato dessert sold across 22 states is being recalled due to a labeling mistake.
The Fresh Market recently announced on its website that the “Petrini Belgian Dark Chocolate Gelato,” produced by Heinlein Foods USA Inc., has been recalled because it may have the “wrong back label/ingredient listing.”
Refund Offered for Affected Products
The Fresh Market urges customers who purchased this product to discard it. Buyers can return with their receipt to any Fresh Market location for a full refund, according to the company’s notice. The Fresh Market operates in 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.
Mislabeling Leads to Recall
A Heinlein Foods representative told Newsweek that the recall was prompted when a worker accidentally placed a strawberry sorbet label on the back of the dark chocolate gelato. This mislabeling error resulted in the product being incorrectly marked as “dairy free,” even though the gelato contains milk, which poses a risk to those with dairy allergies.
Limited Impact of the Recall
Only 55 boxes of the gelato were affected, and they have been removed from distribution. At the time of publication, no allergic reactions related to this issue had been reported.
Milk Allergies Can Trigger Severe Reactions
While milk may not cause concern for most consumers, it can trigger anaphylaxis—a potentially fatal condition—in individuals with dairy allergies. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness, and require immediate medical attention. Other allergic reactions may involve rashes, hives, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping.
FDA’s List of Major Allergens
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies milk as one of the nine “major food allergens.” The other major allergens include eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and soybeans. Approximately 6% of American adults and 8% of children have at least one food allergy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lactose Intolerance Concerns
Milk can also affect those with lactose intolerance, a condition where the body can’t digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. Symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and abdominal pain. Untreated lactose intolerance may lead to long-term health effects by hindering the absorption of calcium and vitamin D.
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