This is a warning for buyers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that some chocolates labeled as “dairy-free” may actually contain milk, posing risks to individuals with milk allergies. This mislabeling can lead to serious health issues for those who are allergic to dairy.
Recent testing revealed that 13 out of 210 chocolate samples from Pennsylvania and Michigan between 2022 and 2023 tested positive for milk. These contaminated samples were sourced from three different food manufacturers. In light of these findings, two of the manufacturers have agreed to remove the “dairy-free” label from their products, while the third has committed to doing so if it cannot determine and eliminate the source of the milk.
The FDA’s preliminary investigation suggests that the presence of milk is likely linked to the supplier of dark chocolate rather than improper practices by the manufacturers themselves. Although the FDA does not have specific definitions for terms like “dairy-free” or “milk-free,” it mandates that any claims made by manufacturers must be accurate.
All 13 chocolate products that contained milk included advisory statements on their labels indicating potential cross-contamination, such as noting they were made in facilities that also process milk. The FDA advises consumers with milk allergies to reach out to chocolate manufacturers for more information about their products, including whether they are made on shared equipment and whether any milk testing is conducted.
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