FDA Issues Most Serious Risk Level for Cookie Recall

Newsweek

30-07-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued its highest risk warning after a California-based company recalled cookies due to potential undeclared allergens.
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).
The FDA has now classified the recall as Class I, its most serious category. On its website, the FDA states a Class I is "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."
Newsweek approached Jalux Americas, Inc. via an email outside of office hours for an updated statement.
Why it Matters
In its original announcement posted on the FDA's website, Jalux Americas, Inc. said that "people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk and/or tree nuts (almond and macadamia nuts) run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products."
A stock image of a split cookie. The FDA has issued a Class I classification, its highest risk category, after California-based Jalux Americas, Inc. initiated a recall of cookie products
A stock image of a split cookie. The FDA has issued a Class I classification, its highest risk category, after California-based Jalux Americas, Inc. initiated a recall of cookie products
Gavin Woodruff/iStock / Getty Images Plus
Food allergies are a significant health concern in the United States, with milk and tree nuts among the nine major food allergens identified under federal law. The others are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
Allergies are an immune system's response to a substance. Allergic reactions can vary in severity from coughing and a runny nose to a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.
According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, almost 6 percent of U.S. adults and children have a food allergy.
What To Know
The recall, announced on July 14, 2025, affects:
L'espoir cookies (32 units, UPC: 4 942737 200147, code: L4FN, best before 09/26/2025) for undeclared milk
Drycapot cookies (28 units, UPC: 4 942737 210191, code: D4FN, best before 09/26/2025) for undeclared tree nuts (almond and macadamia nut)
The products were distributed in California, Illinois, and Washington and sold exclusively at J.sweets retail locations in Torrance, CA, and San Jose, CA, Arlington Heights, IL; and Lynnwood, WA. The L'espoir cookies were on sale from May 26 to June 30, 2025, and the Drycapot cookies from May 31 to June 30, 2025. No online sales occurred.
Product images released by Jalux Americas, Inc.via the FDA alongside a product recall of L'espoir Brand L'espoir cookies and L'espoir Brand Drycapot cookies
Product images released by Jalux Americas, Inc.via the FDA alongside a product recall of L'espoir Brand L'espoir cookies and L'espoir Brand Drycapot cookies
Jalux Americas, Inc./FDA
Jalux Americas, Inc. said the recall was "initiated after it was discovered during an inventory audit that L'espoir product containing Milk and the Drycapot product containing Tree Nuts were inadvertently distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of those allergens."
As of July 17, no illnesses have been reported.
In an earlier statement provided to Newsweek, Jalux Americas, Inc. said: "Those who have allergies to the ingredients that were inadvertently undeclared on the labels should refrain from consuming the products and return them to the store where they purchased for a full refund."
The company added: "As part of our preventive measures, our supplier partner has added a step at their manufacturing facility to verify that the product matches the label after it is applied, and to record this verification in the production log. Our supplier partner will also reinforce allergy and manufacturing procedure training at the facility." The company further stated, "At the retail store level, we will strengthen our checks during stocking to ensure there are no discrepancies between products and labels, not just for the manufacturer of the recalled products but across all items. We would like to clarify that we have thus far not received any inquiries from consumers regarding this matter."
The FDA says 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."
What Happens Next
Consumers who have purchased L'espoir L4FN and Drycapot D4FN products with the best before date of 09/26/2025 are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.