A recall has been announced for protein bars sold at Costco stores in seven states and Washington, D.C. A lot of Simply Protein Peanut Butter Chocolate Crispy Bars reportedly hit shelves contaminated with undeclared traces of cashews, which normally need to be issued on the packaging for people with allergies. If consumed without warning, the bars could pose a life-threatening reaction in those with extreme sensitivities to the tree nut.
Where Are The Protein Bars Recalled?
The bars were sent to "limited" Costco stores in Arkansas, California, Washington DC, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, according to a statement released by the manufacturer, Wellness Natural USA. The protein bars were sold in stores between Feb. 27, 2023, and March 31, 2023, according to a separate notice provided to Costco members.
What Protein Bars Are Being Recalled?
The recall affects bars that come in the manufacturer's 15-count variety pack, which also contain other flavors like Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and Lemon Coconut, but only the Peanut Butter flavor is affected.
How Do I Know If The Protein Bars I Bought Were Recalled?
If you bought the bars between the end of February to the end of March in one of the listed states, they may be part of the recall. Of course, if you don't have a tree nut allergy you can continue to eat the bars, but if you do, you'll want to double-check the labels.
The product is marked with a best-by date of Jan 05 2024 and the marking Lot TN3005A will be written on the wrapper. The recall does not apply to any other lot markings, best-by dates, or other varieties of the Simply Protein products, including the other two flavors contained in the 15-count variety packs affected.
So far only one customer experienced an allergic reaction to the bars, which prompted the recall. The manufacturer noted that "the cause of the contamination" is still under investigation.
Costco stores in the affected states were told to stop sales and distribution immediately, isolate the affected products, and contact the manufacturer for disposal. Consumers can receive a full refund at Costco if they purchased the affected product.
