A prominent American chocolate brand has issued a voluntary recall for one of its products following the discovery of potential salmonella contamination. The move highlights ongoing food safety vigilance, even for products sold primarily online.
Recall Details and Product Identification
Spring & Mulberry, a confectionery company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, initiated the recall for its Mint Leaf Date Sweetened Chocolate Bar. The action was prompted by routine third-party laboratory testing which detected a trace of salmonella. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a report detailing the recall on Monday 12th January 2026.
The affected chocolate bars have been available for purchase online and through select retail partners since 15th September 2025. Consumers are advised to check their purchases immediately. The product can be identified by its teal-coloured box and the specific lot code 025255, which is printed on the back of the outer packaging and the inner flow wrap.
Consumer Advice and Health Implications
Although no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product, the FDA and the company urge customers who have bought the bars to dispose of them safely. Purchasers can contact Spring & Mulberry directly at recalls@springandmulberry.com to arrange a full refund.
Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms. According to the FDA, these typically include diarrhoea, fever, stomach cramps, severe vomiting, and dehydration. While most healthy individuals recover within a week, the infection can pose a serious threat to young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems, sometimes necessitating hospital treatment.
A Pattern of Recent Food Safety Recalls
This chocolate recall follows several other significant food safety actions in the United States in recent months. In November, the FDA announced a recall for Doughy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough produced by Hudson River Foods, also due to potential salmonella. This was later escalated to a Class I recall on 5th December 2025, indicating a situation where there is a reasonable probability that consuming the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
Separately, in December, McCain Foods USA Inc recalled nearly 40,000 cases of two tater tot brands due to possible contamination with hard plastic fragments. The FDA subsequently classified this as a Class II recall, meaning exposure could cause temporary or medically reversible health issues.
These consecutive incidents underscore the critical role of regulatory oversight and manufacturer testing in protecting public health, a concern that resonates with consumers and authorities on both sides of the Atlantic.
