Cappuccino Meltaway Bars Recalled Nationwide Due to Allergy Risk

Gardners Candies brand Cappuccino Meltaway Bars. FDA

Gardners Candies is recalling Cappuccino Meltaway Bars from markets nationwide after finding the products may contain undeclared tree nuts (cashews).

The Gardners Candies brand bars come in 1.25 ounce packages and have been distributed via retail outlets and sold through mail orders on the company’s website, according to a Dec. 27 recall notice published by the FDA. “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products,” warned the notice.

The products were sold starting from the beginning of September with an expiration date of Aug. 27, 2025. Recalled Cappuccino Meltaway Bars were sold in 1.25-ounce white plastic packages, with lot #082725 stamped along the side.

They were also found in Gardners Meltaway Treat Box (lot # 101625 or 112525), with each box containing two bars “along with other flavors of bars packaged together in a generic holiday box.”

Tree nut allergies affect approximately 3.9 million Americans, according to an April report by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), a nonprofit focusing on health advocacy.

Symptoms of the allergy include abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, mouth and eye irritation, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). It becomes especially dangerous when the individual experiences anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction that impairs breathing and can send the body into shock.

As of the moment, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the Gardners Candies Cappuccino Meltaway Bars.

The company initiated the recall and halted production of the candies after discovering that the products, which may contain tree nuts, were sold in packaging that did not reveal the presence of the allergen.

According to the FDA notice, this was due to a “temporary breakdown” in the production and packaging processes.

In an update on the company’s Facebook page yesterday, Gardners Candies said it is “pleased to announce that following a comprehensive review and rigorous safety testing, our product has been officially cleared and is now safe to consume.”

Nonetheless, it advises customers who have a Cappuccino Meltaway Bar affected by the recall to contact Gardners Candies customer service at 1-800-242-2639 for a refund or replacement.

The Epoch Times reached out to Gardner Candies for comment.

Dangerous Allergies

A tree nut allergy typically lasts a lifetime, with less than 1 in 10 people recovering from the disorder, according to the ACAAI.

People suffering from the allergy are advised to stay away from all nuts. Ice cream toppings, sauces, alcoholic beverages, baking mixes, and desserts are all among foods that can contain tree nuts, according to the ACAAI website.

Because the nuts can trigger potentially life-threatening reactions, the presence of these items must be highlighted on product packaging in clear language.

Tree nuts can also be found in lotions, soaps, and hair care products.

Although peanuts are legumes, not nuts, many people who are allergic to peanuts also react to at least one tree nut, according to the ACAAI overview.

Children who are at risk of anaphylaxis are advised to carry two epinephrine autoinjectors with them, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Parents should consult their pediatrician on how to use the autoinjector if their child has a severe reaction.  It’s important that teachers, caregivers, and family members also know how to use the rescue medicine.

Sometimes, children may outgrow their allergies. However, at the moment, there is no cure for food allergies in children.

The Johns Hopkins report mentions nine allergens as causing approximately 90 percent of all food allergies among children—milk, eggs, wheat, soybeans, sesame, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish, with the last four causing the most severe reactions.

According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), roughly 33 million Americans suffer from at least one type of food allergy. That number includes almost 11 percent of adults aged 18 and above.

A 2021 survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics found that 5.8 percent of children aged 0-17 years are diagnosed with a food allergy of some type. Between 2007 and 2021, cases of allergies among children rose by 50 percent.

FARE calls food allergy a “serious public health and economic issue.” Every year, roughly 3.4 million people—a number nearly the size of Utah’s population—visit emergency departments for issues related to food allergy.

Food allergies can negatively affect the quality of life. “About one in three children with food allergy reports being bullied due to food allergy. Moreover, among children with allergies to more than two foods, over half report being bullied due to food allergy,” FARE said.