A recall is in effect across seven Canadian provinces for a chocolate bar sold by the Swiss company Milka because it contains undeclared hazelnuts.
Milka brand Bubbly Alpine Milk “Chocolat” is being removed from store shelves because it contains hazelnuts, an ingredient not listed on the packaging, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said in a Jan. 14 advisory.
The chocolate bars are sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the food inspection agency said. The chocolate bars are also sold on Amazon.
The recalled chocolate bar is 90 grams in size with a Universal Product Code (UPC) of 7 622210 371638, the CFIA said.
The recall was triggered by a consumer complaint, the agency said, noting that there has been one reported reaction linked to the consumption of the product.
CFIA is advising anyone with hazelnut allergies or sensitivities to avoid eating the product. Hazelnuts are a member of the tree nut family.
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The agency is currently “verifying that industry is removing recalled products from the marketplace,” and is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products.
Mondelēz International, which owns the Milka chocolate brand, has yet to issue a statement about the recall. The Epoch Times contacted the company for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
Mondelēz International has owned the Milka brand since 2012. It also owns popular brands like Ritz, Oreo, and Clif Bar. Milka Chocolate products are sold in more than 15 countries.
Hazelnut Allergy Symptoms
Hazelnut and other tree nut allergies can cause reactions ranging from mild, such as hives, to severe reactions like anaphylaxis, Health Canada says.
Other allergic reactions include swelling of the face, lips, and tongue, itching, warmth, redness, and respiratory issues like coughing, wheezing, or hay fever-like symptoms as well as nausea, cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea, the health agency said on its website.
Severe reactions may result in pale or blue-tinged skin colour, weak pulse, dizziness or lightheadedness, trouble swallowing, or loss of consciousness.
Individuals experiencing anaphylaxis may exhibit symptoms that include difficulty in breathing, a drop in blood pressure, or shock, which can result in loss of consciousness and, in critical situations, death.
The only treatment for anaphylaxis is an injection of epinephrine via an auto-injector device known as an EpiPen, the health agency said.
