San Francisco-based chocolatier Ghirardelli has issued a voluntary recall of certain powdered beverage mixes after a supplier flagged potential Salmonella contamination in an ingredient, the company said Wednesday.
The recall affects more than a dozen bulk products — including chocolate and white frappe mixes, hot cocoa powders and flavored drink bases — that were primarily distributed to restaurants and other food service customers.
Some products may also have been sold online, according to Ghiradelli.
The issue traces back to milk powder supplied by Visalia-based California Dairies Inc. and used by a third-party manufacturer that produces the mixes for Ghirardelli.
“Neither we, our third-party manufacturer, nor the milk powder supplier have received reports of illness or injury related to this issue to date, and our own rigorous testing has not identified any impacted powdered beverage mixes,” Ghiradelli said in its notice, adding it acted “out of an abundance of caution.”
Ghirardelli said it has halted distribution of a “material share” of the affected products and is working with distributors and customers to retrieve or dispose of them. The company has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is working with regulators.
The recalled items were sold in large-format packaging, with “best if used by” dates ranging into 2027 and 2028. A full list of affected products and lot numbers is available on Ghirardelli’s website.
Retailers are being instructed to contact a recall hotline for refunds or replacements. Consumers who believe they may have used the products can contact the company through its website.
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause foodborne illness, typically spread through contaminated food or water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates it causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States each year.
Symptoms can include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness.
No illnesses linked to the recalled products have been reported.