A nut supplier based in Elgin, Illinois, is recalling pots of honey-roasted cashews sold in Walmart stores in 30 states over concerns they may contain undeclared coconut and milk, the Food and Drug Agency (FDA) said.
In an alert issued on Wednesday, the federal agency announced that John B. Sanfilippo & Son, which describes itself as the "nut industry leader," was recalling batches of 8.25-ounce Great Value Honey Roasted Cashews after a consumer said they found coconut-flavored cashews in a container labeled as honey roasted.
The FDA said that following an investigation, the company found that a "limited number" of plastic cans had been incorrectly labeled.
An allergy to coconuts when consumed is relatively rare, according to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, but a reaction to skin products containing coconut is more common.
However, warnings are provided as an allergy can cause anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. Other reactions can include an itchy throat, a rash, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, depending on the sufferer.
An allergy to milk comes from the immune system treating dairy as though it's a dangerous pathogen. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says that it is more common among children and can cause hives, stomach upset, vomiting and, in some cases, anaphylaxis as well.
The FDA announcement said that those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to coconut or milk "run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product," but that no adverse reactions had been reported so far.
Newsweek approached John B. Sanfilippo & Son and Walmart via email for comment on Thursday.
The plastic cans that are subject to the recall carry the best before date of July 8, 2025, and the universal product code 078742133348.
The FDA said the product was distributed to Walmart stores in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia, as well as via Walmart's online store.
Consumers who purchased the nuts were urged to discard the product or return it to a Walmart store for a refund.
Wednesday's recall is just the latest related to products containing coconut to occur recently.
In late December, over a thousand caramel chocolate bars were recalled from Aldi stores in Florida after some were found to contain undeclared coconut.
Prior to that, a nationwide supermarket brand recalled a batch of egg custard pies because some of the packages may have contained a coconut pie instead. Earlier in November, packs of gluten free honey oat granola were recalled over the presence of coconut.
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Aleks Phillips is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. ... Read more
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