Whole Foods Market Expands Allergy Alert On Swiss Chocolate Bars

Whole Foods Market is expanding the recall of the 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Milk Chocolate Bars with Rice Crisps with a Best If Used By date of 11/21/07, to include all varieties and all lots of chocolate bars with a Best If Used By date prior to 11/08/09. The products may contain undeclared milk and tree nuts. People, who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts or milk, run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Products affected by the recall are all lots with Best If Used by date prior to 11/08/09 as follows:

365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Milk Chocolate with Rice Crisps-UPC: 9948241730

365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Dark Chocolate with Coconut Flakes-UPC: 9948241731

365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Dark Chocolate with Mint Crisps-UPC: 9948241729

365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Milk Chocolate-UPC: 9948240805

365 Organic Everyday Value Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts-UPC: 9948240806

365 Organic Everyday Value Milk Chocolate with Almonds-UPC: 9948240807

365 Organic Everyday Value Dark Chocolate-UPC: 9948240808

365 Organic Everyday Value Dark Chocolate with Almonds-UPC: 9948240809

The product was distributed to and sold at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Chocolate Bars are sold in 3 ounce sizes are in blue and white or maroon and white wrappers with a picture of chocolate pieces and the Swiss countryside on the front. The recalled chocolate bars have a Best If Used By date prior to 11/08/09, which is found on the back of the wrapper in a white box.

Consumers who have 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Chocolate Bars can return them to Whole Foods Market for a full refund.

The recall was expanded after subsequent testing of additional products indicated that the presence of undeclared allergens may be possible in additional lots.

"We have an extensive quality assurance process that works to insure the safety of our products. When we do find an issue, our course of action is to always put customer safety first," said Bruce Silverman, Global Vice President of Private Label for Whole Foods Market. "Hence our decision last week to immediately remove potentially affected chocolate bar skus from the shelves until this further investigation was complete."