Granola Recall Over Life-Threatening Allergy Fears

A chocolate cherry granola has been recalled amid fears it could spark a "life-threatening allergic reaction" for some consumers.

The Door County Love Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola, which is made by Wisconsin-based Kick Ash Products, may contain undeclared almonds—a potentially deadly allergen to those allergic to nuts. It was sold in the Kick Ash store in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin, but is also sold online, meaning it may have reached customers across the U.S.

The company released a statement saying: "The recall was initiated after Kick Ash discovered that the Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola containing almonds was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of almonds. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production processes."

There have been no reported illnesses to date, the company added. Newsweek has reached out to Kick Ash Products through an online form on its website seeking further information and comment.

Tree nuts "are responsible for more than 90% of food allergy cases in the United States, and within this group, almond allergies are persistent and normally severe and life-threatening," said a 2021 scientific paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients.

Tree nut allergies affect up to 1 percent of the U.S. population, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). Allergic consumers could suffer a range of symptoms, including abdominal cramps, vomiting, itching of the mouth, eyes or skin, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can cause anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition that impairs breathing and can send the body into shock.

The Door County Love Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola is sold in a brown plastic packet with a heart-shaped transparent viewing window and a red label. The affected packets are marked Lot #061241 and will have a Best By date of 08/31/24. Both the Lot number and Best By Date can be found imprinted at the top of the bag.

The recall affects shoppers who bought the granola at the Kick Ash store or through the kickashproducts.com website between February 26 and March 11 this year.

Consumers who bought the product are urged to return it to Kick Ash Products for a full refund.

The granola recall warning was shared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its website explains that when "a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service."

Recalls are issued if there are concerns that a food product may be harmful in some way, such as when testing reveals that products are infected with potentially deadly bacteria, contain undeclared ingredients such as allergens, or amid fears that foods could be contaminated with a foreign object from the manufacturing process.