A California company has recalled thousands of packs of mini ice cream bars because they could be contaminated with salmonella.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared the announcement from Tropicale Foods on its website on Saturday.
The company, based in Modesto, is recalling 5,224 units of Helados Mexico Mini Cream Variety Pack after testing found that mango bars in the pack could be contaminated with salmonella.
Salmonella is "an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems," the FDA said.
The products, which have a best by date of 10/11/2025, were distributed at retail locations in 16 states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virgina, Wisconsin, and West Virgina. They were also sold in Washington, D.C. and locations in Europe.
According to the announcement, there have not been any reports of salmonella infections related to the recalled products.
Salmonella infections can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Some people's illnesses may be severe enough that they require hospitalization and, in rare cases, they can be fatal.
According to estimates from the CDC, about 1.35 million cases of salmonella infection occur in the U.S. each year, resulting in approximately 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths.
The company has stopped distributing the product and has launched an investigation into what caused the problem.
Tropicale Foods is asking customers with recalled products to throw them away and not eat them. Those with questions can contact the company at 909-563-3090 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday to Friday.
Newsweek has contacted Tropicale Foods for comment via email.
Food recalls are issued if there are concerns that a product may be harmful to consumers in some way, such as if products may be contaminated or if mislabeled products fail to disclose allergens.
Earlier this week, another California company issued a recall of nuts because they could be contaminated with salmonella.
Also this week, batches of all-purpose flour were recalled by Shawnee Milling Company after being found to contain undeclared milk and egg.
And a recall of sushi sold in Geissler's Supermarket locations was announced amid concerns that labels failed to disclose that they contain milk, wheat and eggs.
Sesame, milk, soybeans, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and crustacean shellfish are major food allergens, as defined by the FDA.
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