There is a rhythm to the time it takes to buy Halloween candy. In the middle of September, you go to Marshalls or HomeGoods and see something fun and holiday-themed. You don’t give it much thought and just put it in your cart. There are about a million bags of Crystal Temptations’ Chocolatey Eyeballs sitting on shelves because of this. Now, those people are being told to get rid of them.
The FDA issued a recall notice on August 31 for Crystal Temptations’ Halloween Chocolatey Eyeballs, which are chocolate candies in the shape of eyes that were sold at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Sierra Trading Post in different package sizes. The reason is that the milk wasn’t marked on the packaging. That’s probably not a big deal for most people. It’s not small at all for someone who is allergic to milk.
Arizona, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Indiana, Nevada, California, New Jersey, Ohio, and Wyoming are among the 13 states that are part of the recall. That is a big reach for a product that most likely looked like a harmless impulse buy. The return is being done by Crystal Temptations, a company based in North Arlington, New Jersey.
Five different items are affected, from a 7-ounce acrylic box to a 16-ounce designer pouch bag. 54040-CHEY, 54077-CHEY, 58008-CHEY, 58089-CHEY, and 54083-CHEY are the style numbers that are written on the labels. This is the best way to tell if the item you have is part of the recall. The FDA has released pictures of the products, which is helpful because these boxes are unique enough that most people who bought them will recognize them right away.
Nothing sick has been reported yet. That’s important to note, not to downplay the worry, but because it’s the kind of information that gets lost in coverage of recalls. We are not facing a health emergency at this time. Unknown allergens don’t have to cause a large event, though, to hurt one person. The fact that those ingredients aren’t listed is very important for families with children who have milk allergies and who might grab candy without reading the whole label.
This is a good place to sit down and think. Labeling foods for allergens isn’t a new rule, and the idea that milk is in chocolate is almost a given, but that’s exactly what’s wrong. If someone chooses a product because it doesn’t say “milk” on the label, they should be given correct information. It can be scary for families with food allergies to go down the candy aisle, especially around Halloween. A missed label declaration doesn’t help.
If you bought the chocolate that was recalled, the FDA’s advice is simple: throw it away. Do not take it back to the store. People who want to get their money back should contact Crystal Temptations directly, not the store, according to the recall notice. It’s a small logistical point that you should know before you go to a Marshalls customer service desk.
There is still time to get more for Halloween. Maybe take a quick look at your candy haul before the holiday season starts, though.
