Cookie Recall as 'Serious' Health Warning Issued

A California-based company is recalling various cookie products due to the possible undeclared presence of allergens that could cause "serious" health issues, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Jalux Americas, Inc., doing business as J.sweets, issued a voluntary recall on July 14 for multiple units of its L'espoir cookies because of undeclared milk, and its Drycapot cookies because of undeclared tree nuts (almond and macadamia nuts).

Newsweek contacted Jalux Americas Inc. for comment by email outside regular working hours.

Why It Matters

Milk and tree nuts are two of the nine major food allergens as defined in law. The others are eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame.

The FDA warned that people with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk or tree nuts "run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products."

Allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms, such as hives and lip swelling, to life-threatening complications, such as anaphylaxis, that may include fatal respiratory problems.

What To Know

The products impacted by the recall are:

• L'espoir cookies - 32 units - code: L4FN - best before date: 09/26/2025 - bar code number: 4 942737 200147
• Drycapot cookies - 28 units - code: D4FN - best before date: 09/26/2025 - bar code number: 4 942737 210191

The recalled products were distributed in California, Illinois and Washington. The cookies were sold exclusively at J.sweets stores in Torrance, San Jose, Arlington Heights and Lynnwood.

The L'espoir cookies were sold between May 26 and June 30, and the Drycapot cookies were for sale between May 31 and June 31. Neither were available for purchase online.

No illnesses had been reported in connection with the consumption of the affected products as of July 17, according to the FDA.

The recall was issued after an inventory audit revealed that the products' packaging did not reveal the presence of the two allergens.

What People Are Saying

The FDA, on its website: "People with food allergies should read labels and avoid the foods they are allergic to. The law requires that food labels identify the food source of all major food allergens used to make the food."

Dr. Sebastian Lighvani, director of New York Allergy & Asthma PLLC, previously told Newsweek: "Every three minutes in the United States, someone ends up in an emergency room because of an allergic reaction after accidental ingestion of food. So even when we try hard, these reactions are happening. And if you look at the incidence of anaphylaxis, it has skyrocketed in the last five, 10, 20 years. And in the U.S., there's like a 300 to 400 percent increase in the rates of anaphylaxis to foods."

What Happens Next

The recall is ongoing, according to the FDA.

Consumers who purchased the recalled products are advised to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.