The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to four suspected peanut butter hot chocolate products, that may contain undeclared peanut.
The agency made this announcement through a statement on its website, adding that people who have allergies to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the products.
The products, produced by Corim Industries, USA of Brick, New Jersey, are being voluntarily recalled, following the public alert that peanut butter hot chocolate products may contain undeclared peanut.
Being four in number, the suspected products are Cocoa de Aroma; Smart Sips; Jersey Charm and Colonial Coffee.
While all four products have June 2023 as expiry date, they also share same size, which is 12 ct single serve coffee.
The recall began as a result of the discovery that a substitute flavouring ingredient from a different supplier may include trace amounts of peanut that were not disclosed to downstream partners on the label of the final product or the bulk label.
Corim's tests, however, revealed that the amounts could be below the threshold for detection. The fundamental reason was later determined by the company's research team to be a brief malfunction in the supplier documentation procedure. The procedure has been changed, and the business has implemented extra safety checks and remedial measures, which includes ceasing to utilize this flavouring component.
“Despite the fact that the items are not included in the NAFDAC database, importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are urged to be vigilant throughout the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the recalled peanut butter hot chocolate. It is important to thoroughly inspect the items' physical integrity and legitimacy,” the agency stated.
Customers who have bought the concerned items but have a peanut allergy are advised not to consume them and instead to send their stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
No illnesses or deaths have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
