Sweet Treat, Sour Surprise: Nationwide Recall for Chocolate Bars Over Salmonella Fears

A popular chocolate bar has been abruptly pulled from shelves across the United States following the discovery of potential salmonella contamination. Spring & Mulberry, a company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, issued a voluntary recall for a specific lot of its Mint Leaf Date-Sweetened Chocolate Bars after routine third-party testing raised safety red flags, according to an announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recall affects the 2.1-ounce bars sold in distinctive teal packaging, marked with lot number 025255, which have been available online and in select retailers nationwide since mid-September 2025. While no illnesses have been reported to date, the company stated it is taking “proactive” measures to safeguard public health, offering refunds to consumers who purchased the affected product.

The recall highlights the serious risks associated with salmonella, a bacteria that can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations like young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Infection symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain, with rare cases escalating to more severe arterial or bloodstream illnesses. The FDA and Spring & Mulberry are urging consumers to check their pantries for the specific teal-wrapped bars, discard them immediately if found, and contact the company for a full refund. This chocolate recall arrives amid a series of recent food safety actions, including a high-risk listeria recall for cheese products and a separate recall for frozen tater tots possibly contaminated with plastic fragments, underscoring ongoing vigilance in the nation’s food supply chain.