Halloween Chocolate Recalled in 13 States Over Undisclosed Milk, Outshine Fruit Bars Pulled for Glass Risk

Two unrelated food recalls landed on the FDA's site this week. If you've got a freezer stocked for Halloween or summer snacking, check your labels.

The Candy: Undeclared Milk

Crystal Temptations, based in North Arlington, New Jersey, is recalling its Chocolatey Eyeballs after discovering the candy contains whey, a milk derivative, that wasn't listed on the packaging, according to a company announcement posted on the FDA's website.

The product was sold at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and Sierra stores across 13 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming, according to Newsweek and Fox affiliates in Chicago and Philadelphia. Five separate package styles are covered by the recall.

Newsweek reported the problem surfaced when a TJX analyst caught the undeclared whey during a routine check. Crystal Temptations then launched its own investigation and blamed the mislabeling on what the company called a temporary breakdown in its production and packaging process, according to Newsweek and both Fox affiliates.

Milk is the most common undeclared allergen in the country. The FDA says it's responsible for more than a third of all U.S. food recalls tied to undeclared allergens over the past decade and is the leading cause of adverse reactions consumers report after eating recalled foods. An estimated 2% of Americans have a milk allergy, based on a 2015-2016 national survey the FDA cites. Reactions can range from hives and stomach upset to, in rare cases, anaphylaxis.

No illnesses have been reported connected to the candy, according to the company's notice. Anyone who bought it is being told to throw it out, not return it to the store. Refunds have to go through Crystal Temptations directly, with proof of purchase, at 201-246-7990, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

A reasonable person might ask why a company would risk a Halloween-season recall over a labeling slip that seems easy to catch. The company's own explanation, a temporary breakdown in production and packaging, suggests this was an internal quality-control failure rather than deliberate corner-cutting. The burden still falls on consumers who trusted the label to check it against the recall notice now.

The Fruit Bars: Glass

Separately, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream is recalling select Outshine Fruit Bars nationwide over reports of glass contamination, according to CNN and a company news release. Dreyer's said the recall was prompted by actual reports of glass turning up in the product, though the company has not said how many reports or where they originated.

The affected products are limited to six-count, 2.5-ounce boxes of strawberry, watermelon, grape, tangerine and black cherry bars, plus the 24-count variety pack, with best-before dates ranging from May 31 through November 30, 2027. Dreyer's published a full list of UPC and bar codes in its release for consumers to check against products already in their freezer.

"The safety, quality, and integrity of our products remain our highest priority," Dreyer's said in its release, adding an apology for the inconvenience. No illnesses or injuries have been reported. Consumers can throw the bars out or return them to their original place of purchase for a full refund, no receipt drama required, unlike the candy recall.

What's Unresolved

Neither company has disclosed how many units are affected or how the contamination or mislabeling actually happened beyond Crystal Temptations' brief reference to a packaging breakdown and Dreyer's silence on the source of the glass. Neither recall has been linked, so far, to a single confirmed injury or allergic reaction. Whether that stays true depends on how many of these products are still sitting in freezers and pantries heading into the fall shopping season.