US authorities have recalled more than 6,000 bags of repackaged M&M's candy after discovering a labeling error that could be life-threatening for people with allergies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that Beacon Promotions failed to include necessary allergen warnings on the packaging. The candy contains milk, soy, and peanuts, but these ingredients were not listed on the outer bags, putting people with allergies at serious risk, including potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
The draw includes 1.3-ounce bags of classic peanut butter M&M's, designed specifically for corporate events and not for retail sale. These bags were distributed in 20 U.S. states, including California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
The company began the recall process on January 26, and the FDA classified it as a Category 2 product on February 4, meaning the product may cause temporary or treatable health effects, with a small likelihood of serious harm.
Consuming these sweets can trigger a severe allergic reaction, including skin rash, swelling, difficulty breathing, or potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock within minutes. Individuals with any of these allergies are advised to avoid the sweets and discard them immediately.
Milk allergy: May lead to anaphylactic shock including skin rash, vomiting, wheezing, swelling and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Peanut allergy: Even slight exposure can lead to a rapid, systemic reaction (anaphylaxis), requiring the constant carrying of an epinephrine auto-injector.
Soy allergy: May cause skin rash, itching, digestive disturbances, swelling, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.
Beacon Promotions, based in Minnesota, specializes in designing promotional products bearing clients' logos, including custom-packaged M&M's. Notable clients include Subaru, Morgan Stanley, Adobe, Xfinity, Best Western, and universities such as Maryland and Liberty.
