Winfield's Chocolate Bar is pulling five dark chocolate novelty treats from shelves at its three Houston shops after discovering the word “milk” was accidentally left off the ingredient lists. The affected shapes read like a candy case lineup: a cowboy, a cat, a teddy bear, a champagne bottle and an Easter bunny, all sold at the Rice Village, River Oaks and Galleria/Tanglewood locations. For anyone with a milk allergy, eating the mislabeled chocolates could trigger a serious reaction.
According to a company announcement posted by the FDA, CBSL Commissary LLC, which operates as Winfield’s Chocolate Bar, started the voluntary recall on Tuesday after spotting the labeling slipup. The firm told the agency that every affected item was pulled from sale and relabeled on April 27, and that none of the product went out to wholesalers, distributors or other retailers. The recall notice also lists the five SKUs and product descriptions so shoppers can double check what they bought.
Winfield’s runs three storefronts in Houston and posts shop information, pickup details and hours on the company's website. The site highlights the Rice Village, River Oaks and Galleria/Tanglewood locations and includes phone contacts for each one. Customers who placed online shipping orders can still use the web store for other items that are not part of the recall.
The company is advising anyone with a milk allergy who picked up the recalled chocolates to toss them or bring them back to the store for a refund. Questions can be directed to Alan Underwood at 281-667-9411 ext. 702 or [email protected], according to the FDA notice. Officials report that no illnesses or allergic reactions have been linked to the products so far.
Why labeling matters
Milk is one of the major food allergens that federal rules require manufacturers to clearly spell out on labels, and undeclared milk is a repeat offender in allergen-related recalls. A survey in the Journal of Food Protection found undeclared milk in several dark chocolate bars, and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service lays out the common “big” allergens that people need to watch for. Together, those resources underline why getting the label right is not just good practice, it is essential for people with food allergies.
What Houstonians should do
If you or someone in your household has a milk allergy and you bought any of the listed shapes, play it safe, assume the candy contains milk and either throw it out or bring it back to the store for a refund. If you noticed any allergic symptoms after eating one of these chocolates, seek medical care immediately and tell your provider about the possible exposure. For anything else, reach out to Winfield’s support team by phone or email using the contact information the company has provided.
