Illinois Alert: Chocolate Snack Could Cause Deadly Reaction

Food recalls due to safety issues are always a bummer, but even more so when it's a snack that really tastes good. That's what's happened to dark chocolate almonds in Illinois that have a flaw that could cause a life-threatening allergic reaction.

The Food and Drug Administration just issued a bulletin on a popular dark chocolate almond snack that is widely available in Illinois and the Land of Lincoln is on the advisory recall list. The recall has been instigated by Meijer who are warning about Frederik’s Dark Chocolate Almonds that have been discovered to also contain chocolate covered cashews. While that won't seem like a big deal to many people, it can be a life and death situation for someone with a nut allergy. This is the package that you need to look for.

The FDA says these dark chocolate almonds were sold in "Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin with a sell-by date of 05/07/2026 or 05/28/2026".

What happens if someone with a cashew allergy accidentally eats one?

It depends on the severity of the allergy. For some, the symptoms might be mild, but if severe it can result in a potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis. The symptoms for a serious reaction to a cashew allergy include difficulty breathing and/or the swelling of the throat and tongue. Fainting or dizziness can also be a sign that a reaction will be big trouble. The best strategy would be to not consume these dark chocolate almonds if you have that type of allergy. Packages can be returned to Illinois stores for a refund also.