Mislabeling prompts voluntary product recall by Farrell Farms
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 1, 2017 5:50 AM
Full Size
Submitted photo
Three nut-based products sold by Farrell Farms in Goldsboro have been voluntarily recalled pending a change to the label, as the distributor reportedly left one item off the ingredients list.
Farrell Farms, a Goldsboro business venture whose nut-based products are sold to benefit a Bolivian orphanage, has pulled some of its products after being notified of a voluntary recall due to mislabeling.
Dr. Frank Farrell, proprietor of the effort who started the non-profit in support of K.W. Methodist Children's Home, contacted the News-Argus on Wednesday.
The products in question contained dark chocolate, he said -- specifically dark chocolate almonds, pecans and cashews. The items were reportedly sold online at festivals and the website, www.farrellfarms.com between Oct. 16 and Nov. 17.
Farrell said he was notified by the distributor about the voluntary recall.
"These three products are distributed by Dutch Valley Foods of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and packaged by Farrell Farms of Goldsboro, N.C., and have been recalled because the ingredients list did not indicate the products included milk," the release read. "Individuals with food allergies to milk run the risk of serious reactions to these products."
The recall is effective Oct. 31, it continued, and applies to Farrell Farms product labels for seven-ounce bags.
The products in question contained dark chocolate, he said -- specifically dark chocolate almonds, pecans and cashews. The items were reportedly sold online at festivals and the website, www.farrellfarms.com between Oct. 16 and Nov. 17.
Farrell said he was notified by the distributor about the voluntary recall.
"These three products are distributed by Dutch Valley Foods of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and packaged by Farrell Farms of Goldsboro, N.C., and have been recalled because the ingredients list did not indicate the products included milk," the release read. "Individuals with food allergies to milk run the risk of serious reactions to these products."
The recall is effective Oct. 31, it continued, and applies to Farrell Farms product labels for seven-ounce bags.
The products were recalled due to "undeclared milk in the chocolate raw materials used to coat the various nut products," officials said.
Farrell said that there have been no reports of illnesses, but there is concern for anyone who may have food allergies or severe sensitivity to milk.
"We have pulled those products and we're redoing the labels so it's accurate," he said. "Some don't even include milk but are made with the same machinery that they use to make milk chocolate so they think there may be traces of it."
He said efforts have been made to notify anyone who purchased the affected items online, but they were also sold at festivals.
"We have been selling these in small bags," he said. "Most people consume them on site. They're probably gone by now.
"But some may have been bought for Christmas, so we're trying to let people know."
Farrell, the former director of O'Berry Center until retiring in 2009, began his relationship with Kory Wawanaca Children's Home in Bolivia after a mission trip with others from Pine Forest United Methodist Church.
He continues to make several trips there during the year to the remote village and formed the local cottage industry with the help of volunteers from his church. The nut-based product line is sold online and at festivals around the state.
The mislabeled products have been removed from the website, he said, and will not be available for purchase until an updated ingredient list is received from the distributor. He told the News-Argus he expects the products to be available again as early as next week.
Those who purchased the items may return them for a full refund to Farrell Farms, 303 Wendy Circle, Goldsboro, N.C.
For additional information, call 919-583-4366 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.