Alerts

Mars Chocolate North America Issues Allergy Alert for Select Varieties of Combos For Potential Undeclared Peanut Residue

June 14, 2016  |  Peanuts
Mars Chocolate North America Issues Allergy Alert for Select Varieties of Combos For Potential Undeclared Peanut Residue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Today, Mars Chocolate North America announced a voluntary recall of certain varieties and limited dates of production of COMBOS® Cheddar Cheese Pretzel, COMBOS® Cheddar Cheese Cracker, COMBOS® Pizzeria Pretzel, COMBOS® Sweet and Salt Caramel Pretzel, COMBOS® Pepperoni Cracker, COMBOS® 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 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 Chocolate is recalling the specific lot numbers referenced below. The FDA advises consumers with severe peanut allergies to avoid the recalled products listed on this page because of peanut residue in the flour used to make the products. The FDA have stated that the amount of peanut exposure from use of the flours and affected products is low and not expected to cause adverse health effects in the vast majority of peanut allergic consumers. To date, Mars Chocolate has received no reports of illness related to the products covered by this recall. No other Mars products are impacted by this recall.

The vast majority of these products 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 affected COMBOS® products have a “best before” date ranging from March, 2017 - April, 2017 on the back of the package. Directly underneath the “best before” date is a 10-digit manufacturing code that includes the code date numbers in the table below:

Item NumberDescriptionUPCCode DateBest Before Date
10099128 COMBOS CHEDDAR CHEESE PRETZEL - FAMILY PEG PACK - 6.3 OZ - 12/CA 41419420058 613EAALB01
613EBALB01
613ECALB01
613FAALB01
613FBALB01
614FAALB01
614FBALB01
614FCALB01
3/2017
10099130 COMBOS PIZZERIA PRETZEL - MEDIUM BAG - 6.3 OZ - 12/CA 41419420065 613FBALB01
613FCALB01
613GAALB01
613GBALB01
614DCALB01
614EAALB01
614EBALB01
614ECALB01
4/2017
10099132 COMBOS CHEDDAR CHEESE CRACKER - FAMILY PEG PACK - 6.3 OZ - 12/CA 41419420072 614AAALB01
614ABALB01
614ACALB01
614BAALB01
4/2017
10099135 COMBOS PEPPERONI CRACKER - FAMILY PEG PACK - 6.3 OZ - 12/CA 41419420089 614BAALB01
614BBALB01
614BCALB01
614CAALB01
4/2017
10099141 COMBOS BUFFALO BLUE CHEESE PRETZEL - FAMILY PEG PACK - 6.3 OZ - 12/CA 41419420119 614CAALB01
614CBALB01
614CCALB01
614DAALB01
614DBALB01
4/2017
10109566 COMBOS SNACKS PIZZERIA PRETZEL - 15 OZ - 8/CA 41419780473 613FBALB01
613FCALB01
4/2017
10109569 COMBOS SNACKS CHEDDAR CHEESE PRETZEL - 15 OZ - 8/CA 41419780480 613EAALB01
613EBALB01
614FAALB01
614FBALB01
3/2017
10109577 COMBOS SNACKS CHEDDAR CHEESE CRACKER - 15 OZ - 8/CA 41419780497 614AAALB01
614ABALB01
614ACALB01
4/2017
10117851 COMBOS SWEET AND SALTY CARAMEL CREME PRETZEL - FAMILY PEG PACK - 6.0 OZ - 12/CA 41419780879 613GBALB01
613GCALB01
4/2017
S1317100 COMBOS SNACKS CHEDDAR CHEESE PRETZEL - WAREHOUSE CLUB SINGLES DISPLAY CASE - 1.80 OZ - 18 CT - 12/CA 41419714713 613EAALB01
613EBALB01
613ECALB01
3/1/2017
S1317500 COMBOS SNACKS PIZZERIA PRETZEL - WAREHOUSE CLUB SINGLES DISPLAY CASE - 1.80 OZ - 18 CT - 12/CA 41419714751 613FBALB01
613FCALB01
613GAALB01
614DCALB01
4/1/2017
S4743000 "COMBOS" SNACK BUFFALO BLUE CHEESE PRETZEL - SINGLES - 1.80 OZ - 18 CT - 12/CA 41419474303 614CAALB01
614CBALB01
614CCALB01
614DAALB01
4/1/2017
S7147100 COMBOS SNACKS CHEDDAR CHEESE PRETZEL - SINGLES - 1.80 OZ - 18 CT - 12/CA 41419714713 613ECALB01
613FAALB01
613FBALB01
614FAALB01
614FBALB01
614FCALB01
4/1/2017
S7147300 COMBOS PEPPERONI PIZZA CRACKER - SINGLES - 1.70 OZ - 18 CT - 12/CA 41419714737 614BAALB01
614BBALB01
614BCALB01
4/1/2017
S7147400 COMBOS SNACKS CHEDDAR CHEESE CRACKER - SINGLES - 1.70 OZ - 18 CT - 12/CA 41419714744 614AAALB01
614ABALB01
614ACALB01
614BAALB01
4/1/2017
S7147500 COMBOS PIZZERIA PRETZEL - SINGLES - 1.80 OZ - 18 CT - 12/CA 41419714751 613GAALB01
613GBALB01
614DCALB01
614EAALB01
614EBALB01
614ECALB01
4/1/2017
 

Mars Chocolate will work with impacted retailers to ensure that the recalled product is no longer available for sale. In the event that consumers believe they have purchased this item and have allergy concerns, they should return this product to the store where they purchased it for a full refund. Consumers with questions or concerns may call our toll-free number: 1-800-556-7881. This number will be operational Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (EST).

More information about the flour recall can be found on the FDA’s website at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm504002.htm.

Click here to view numerous photos of recall.

Consumer Contact:
(800) 556-7881

Media Contact:
(973) 691-3536