MCLEAN, VA. — Mars Chocolate North America has recalled certain varieties and limited dates of production of Combos brand products, a day after Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg Co. initiated its own voluntary recall of certain varieties of brownies, snacks and cookies. Earlier this month, Hostess Brands, L.L.C. and Frito-Lay North America, Inc., also initiated voluntary recalls. In each case, the recall stemmed from the potential presence of an undeclared peanut residue.
The Mars recall includes a variety of Combos snacks with “best before” dates ranging from March 2017 to April 2017, including cheddar cheese pretzel, cheddar cheese cracker, Pizzeria pretzel, sweet and salty caramel pretzel, pepperoni cracker, and Buffalo pretzel.
“While those who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume products containing peanut allergens, the amount of peanut exposure from use of the flours and affected products is considered to be low and not expected to cause adverse health effects in the vast majority of peanut allergic consumers,” Mars said.
The company said it initiated the recall after its supplier, Grain Craft, recalled certain lots of wheat flour that has the potential to contain low levels of peanut residue. The Combos brand products subject to the recall may have been produced using the recalled flour, Mars said.
As of June 14, Mars said it had received no reports of illness related to the products covered by the recall. No other Mars products are impacted by the recall.
The vast majority of the Combo snack products associated with the recall were distributed throughout the United States, with the remainder being shipped internationally to the following countries: Bahamas, Jamaica, Virgin Islands-St Thomas, Antigua, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.
The flour recall was the latest in a series announced in recent weeks by users of soft wheat flour. About a month ago, CSM North America and several of its customers announced the recall of a range of products because of the possible presence of undeclared peanuts.
