Certain packages of Tastykake Chocolate Kandy Kakes actually contain Tastykake Peanut Butter Kandy … [+]
This news really takes the Kake. Flowers Foods, Inc. voluntarily recalls some of their Tastykake Chocolate Kandy Kakes. The reason is crazy. Or rather peanuts, which are technically legumes rather than nuts. Certain packages of Tastykake Chocolate Kandy Kakes actually contain Tastykake Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And as you can imagine, peanut butter usually contains peanuts, because that’s how names work. The problem is that the ingredient labels on the packages did not state that the product contained peanuts. So someone who is allergic to peanuts could say, “Hmm, I think I’d like a Tastykake Chocolate Kandy Kake that definitely doesn’t contain peanuts,” and have an allergic reaction — a potentially life-threatening reaction
The packages affected by the recall have a Universal Product Code (UPC) of “0 25600 00225 4” and an “Enjoy by” date of June 5, 2023. If you see this on your package, i.e. your Chocolate Kandy Kakes package, you may not want to enjoy it on June 5 if you are allergic to peanuts in any way. In other words, don’t take your Kake and eat it too. Instead, return it for a refund.
This recall should affect products distributed on May 11, 2023 to retailers in six different states: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia. Of course, just because you’re not in one of these six states doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check your package. You never know where your package has been.
Now, peanut allergies are among the most common food allergies out there. They are one of them FDA’s top nine food allergenss, along with milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. If you have a peanut allergy, you may experience symptoms even after ingesting a very small amount of peanuts. Possible symptoms include gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, stomach cramps, indigestion and diarrhea, respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, throat problems such as swelling, tightness and hoarseness, skin problems such as hives and loss of color and other symptoms such as dizziness and confusion. The biggest concern is anaphylaxis, a life-threatening, whole-body allergic reaction. This requires immediate treatment with epinephrine (adrenaline).
If you suspect you have a peanut allergy, don’t just start mashing peanut brittle and see what happens. See an allergist, who can then order a skin test or blood test or try an oral food challenge. Such a challenge involves being given very small amounts of peanuts or peanut-based products under strict medical supervision.
Usually, the way to manage your peanut allergy is to avoid peanuts. That may sound simple. But peanuts can be just like politics, appearing seemingly everywhere and in places you might not expect. Therefore, you should read the ingredient labels carefully. And that assumes food products are properly labeled.
If you are in the age category 4 to 17 years, you now have another option. The FDA recently approved Palforzia as the only oral immunotherapy product for the treatment of peanut allergies. The treatment essentially exposes your immune system to peanuts gradually. This way, your immune system may not react as strongly the next time it sees peanuts. Palforzia only works if you take it every day. Once you stop using Palforzia, all bets are off. In addition, there is a chance that you will actually get an allergic reaction from Palforzia itself.
However, keep in mind that Palforzia is not a cure for peanut allergies. If you have severe peanut allergies, you should still avoid peanuts and carry a few epinephrine autoinjectors with you at all times. You will still need to be very vigilant and read labels carefully. There is still no peanut allergy treatment that allows you to eat whatever you want. So if you eat a Tastykake by the ocean — or anywhere — check your package to make sure whatever you put in your mouth isn’t part of the recall.