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Food recalls are on the rise, with undeclared allergens now the leading cause of food recalls in the U.S., according to the FDA’s Enforcement Report Database, which tracks all recalls issued under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Even small-batch producers face significant risks, as recall costs can easily exceed seven figures when logistics and brand repair are factored in. Two candy bars are being recalled because of undeclared peanut and cashew allergens just days before Halloween. If you live with a food allergy, or are the parent of a child with a food allergy, you know how scary it is to eat or serve anything you didn’t make yourself. Food recalls are alarmingly common in the U.S. — the Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture together recalled 296 foods in 2024, up from about 170 in 2023, and are on pace to exceed that in 2025, according to Food Safety Net Services. Roughly a third of food recalls involve undeclared allergens, typically peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, or wheat, says the FDA. A recall can trigger weeks of halted production, heightened regulatory oversight, costly logistics, and long-term damage to brand reputation, causing bigger problems than just the product recall. One of the latest recalls involves candy, just ahead of Halloween. Zingerman’s candy bar recall details Zingerman’s voluntarily recalled two kinds of its full-size candy bars on October 24, 2025, after discovering they may contain undeclared nuts that pose a serious health risk for allergy sufferers. The company explained that some of its Peanut Butter Crush Bars contained cashews but were sold in packaging that did not list cashews as an ingredient, and some of its Ca$hew Cow Bars may have been distributed without declaring the presence of peanuts. Affected products: Product Names: Peanut Butter Crush Bar and Ca$hew Cow Bar Lot Number: #174250 Use By Date: 8/30/26 Package Size: 2-ounce (57 g) bars Distribution: Retail stores in Michigan and New York Illness Reports: None reported. Consumers who eat the affected products and are allergic to peanuts or cashews could face “serious or life-threatening allergic reactions,” according to the recall. No illnesses have been reported yet, but as a precaution, all affected items are being pulled from shelves. Customers should return the products for a full refund or discard them immediately. Zingerman’s candy recall falls just before Halloween This recall is poorly timed for Zingerman’s, since it comes just days before Halloween. The company, known for its handcrafted sweets and strong following, said the issue affected only a tiny fraction of its output. Still, with many parents managing nut allergies in children, the timing has made headlines. “In recent years, recalls for undeclared allergens have become the number-one reason for food product recalls. … These are situations where there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a food product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans,” Steve L. Taylor, Ph.D., a Professor of Food Science & Technology at the University of Nebraska, told Food Safety News. As consumer awareness grows and labeling rules tighten, companies large and small are investing heavily in allergen management and traceability systems. Yet even small missteps — like the one announced this week by Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory — show how fragile consumer trust can be. In this case, a temporary breakdown in the production and packaging process is what led to the recall. Financial implications of food recalls Industry data show that direct costs — including logistics, refunds, legal fees, and lost production — are a major part of the impact, but reputational damage can linger long after the products are replaced, making consumers wary of purchases. Studies from the Grocery Manufacturers Association estimate that a single food recall can cost a company $10 million or more, as reported by Food Safety Magazine. Costs can be much higher depending on the scale and complexity of the recall, whether class-action lawsuits are involved, and whether consumers get sick or die. Highest-profile food recalls from 2024: Boar’s Head deli meats contaminated with Listeria: 61 illnesses, 10 deaths. Source: CDC Cucumbers contaminated with Salmonella: 551 illnesses, 155 hospitalizations. Source: CDC McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, containing onions contaminated with E. coli: 104 illnesses, 1 death. Source: CDC Mushroom-infused chocolate bars, containing toxic muscimol: 118 illnesses, 3 deaths. Source: CDC Food recalls lead to: Production disruption: Production slowdowns occur while investigating and correcting the error. Quality-control investment: Training, audits, and packaging redesigns can add thousands in unplanned costs. Regulatory scrutiny: Follow-up inspections and documentation requirements can delay future product launches. Consumers who purchased the Peanut Butter Crush Bar or Ca$hew Cow Bar (Lot #174250, Use By 8/30/26) should return the product or contact Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory for a refund at 877-632-9264.
