Costco's Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Recalled Over Unlisted Cashews

Earlier this week, the FDA recalled SimplyProtein Peanut Butter Chocolate Crispy Bars for "undeclared" cashews. In other words, there could be cashews in the bars, and the packaging neglected to say so. The product is made by Costco brand Wellness Natural U.S.A. Inc. and was only distributed to Costco stores in the U.S. The recalled item is part of a 15-bar variety pack with the flavors Lemon Coconut and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt. The other two flavors list potential cashew content on their wrappers, but the Peanut Butter Chocolate flavor doesn't.

This mislabeling might not just affect foodies who know they have a specific allergy to cashews. People allergic to almonds, walnuts, and other tree nuts might also be adversely affected by consuming cashews, according to Healthline. Additionally, cross-contamination between peanuts and cashews is unfortunately a possibility in food processing plants and can even instigate underlying allergies.

Thankfully, nobody has reported any injury or harm from the SimplyProtein mislabeling. In fact, the bars were voluntarily recalled in the first place because one customer called Wellness Natural U.S.A. Inc. with a complaint. The FDA did not specify whether this caller suffered an allergic reaction or not, but at least so far, no other consumers have come forward with any afflictions. Still, to be safe, here's what susceptible shoppers should look for.

The FDA initially recalled the SimplyProtein bars on April 3, applying to bars with a "Best Before" date of 5 January 2024. But, as of April 12, the agency has expanded the recall to encompass all bars printed with a "Best Before" date between 11 April 2023 and 14 March 2024. The Lot number is printed both on the box and on each individual protein bar wrapper. The affected batches will have a Lot number of "UPC 6 86207 00914 7" on the wrapper and "UPC 6 86207 80906 8" on the box. Wellness Natural U.S.A. Inc. is currently launching an investigation to determine the cause of the cashew contamination. Costco is issuing full refunds for shoppers who unknowingly purchased the bars and is actively pulling them from store shelves to be disposed of.

In the event that someone with a cashew allergy unknowingly consumes the recalled product, it's important to be familiar with signs of a bad reaction. They include itchiness in the throat or mouth, difficulty breathing, and digestive trouble such as vomiting or diarrhea. Anyone exhibiting such symptoms needs to seek medical care ASAP. According to FARE, an estimated 32 million people in the U.S. are living with a food allergy, and about 3.9 million of those are allergic to tree nuts.