Chocolate Bar Salmonella Recall: Spring & Mulberry Pulls Mint Leaf Chocolate Bars Nationwide After Routine Testing
Spring & Mulberry voluntarily recalled lot #025255 of its Mint Leaf Date-Sweetened Chocolate Bars on January 12, 2026, after third‑party testing indicated possible Salmonella. Consumers who bought the teal 2.1‑ounce bars since Sept. 15, 2025 should not eat them.
Key takeaways
- Product: Mint Leaf Date‑Sweetened Chocolate Bars (72% cacao), 2.1‑ounce, teal packaging — recalled for one lot; see the FDA notice.
- Affected lot: Lot No. 025255 (printed on back of box and inner wrapper).
- Action: Do not eat; dispose or return for a refund by emailing recalls@springandmulberry.com with a photo of the lot code.
- Illnesses: No illnesses reported so far; recall is proactive to protect public health.
What happened and how the recall began
Spring & Mulberry, a Raleigh maker of date‑sweetened confections, issued a voluntary recall on January 12, 2026 after a third‑party laboratory flagged possible Salmonella during routine testing of a finished product. The company and the FDA say the recall covers lot #025255 of the 2.1‑ounce Mint Leaf Chocolate Bars in teal packaging. The bars were sold online — including on Amazon — and at select retailers since Sept. 15, 2025 (Fox Business; ABC News).
The company described the action as proactive and limited to the single lot while further testing and follow‑up occur; the FDA classified the posting under foodborne illness risk.
How the testing and recall process works
Routine safety testing — often performed by third‑party labs — examines finished products or ingredients for pathogens such as Salmonella. When a lab finds a possible contamination, companies typically work with regulators, retailers and marketplaces to pull affected items while confirmatory testing proceeds. In this case, the initial result prompted Spring & Mulberry’s voluntary recall of a single lot (Consumer Reports; Fox Business).
What Salmonella can do to people
Salmonella bacteria can cause foodborne illness with symptoms including fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. Most recover without treatment, but infections can be severe for infants, older adults, pregnant people and immunocompromised individuals. In rare cases, the infection can enter the bloodstream and cause serious complications. Health officials advise anyone who ate a recalled product and develops symptoms to seek medical care (AARP; Consumer Reports).
Where the affected bars were sold
The recalled Mint Leaf Chocolate Bars (teal packaging, lot 025255) were distributed nationwide via online sales — including Amazon — and to select retailers. The lot code appears on the back of the box and the inner wrapper. Spring & Mulberry and the FDA state the recall is limited to this lot and does not affect other products (Fox Business; ABC News; AARP).
Company guidance and refunds
Do not eat any bars from lot 025255. Spring & Mulberry instructed consumers to dispose of affected bars or request a refund by emailing recalls@springandmulberry.com with a photo of the lot code. The FDA recall page links to the company notice for details (Consumer Reports; FDA).
Retail and marketplace responses
Retailers and online marketplaces generally remove recalled items after notification; timing can vary by store or third‑party seller. Buyers who purchased the bars from marketplace third‑party sellers should check order histories and contact the seller or Spring & Mulberry for refunds. Major platforms like Amazon often post their own recall notices (Fox Business).
Context: recalls amid a busy start to the year
This recall follows other early‑January actions involving cheese for Listeria and frozen foods for foreign material. Food safety groups say routine testing and prompt transparency are key; Spring & Mulberry’s public notice and the FDA posting reflect that transparency effort (Fox Business).
What consumers should do now
- Check packaging: Look for teal packaging and lot number 025255 on the back of the box and inner wrapper (ABC News).
- Do not eat: Dispose of bars from the affected lot or return them for a refund (Consumer Reports).
- Seek care if ill: If you develop symptoms after eating the product, contact a healthcare provider and mention possible Salmonella exposure (AARP).
- Contact the company: Email recalls@springandmulberry.com with a photo of the lot code to request a refund.
Investigative questions remaining
- What exactly did the third‑party lab detect, and have confirmatory tests verified the initial result?
- Were ingredients or finished bars tested, and is any supplier linked to the finding?
- Will Spring & Mulberry expand testing to other lots or products?
- What corrective and preventive actions will retailers and the company implement to prevent recurrence?
Implications for Los Angeles, California
Economic impact: Los Angeles is a significant market for specialty and online sales; local consumers who purchased the bars should check for lot 025255 and seek refunds. Specialty stores may face returns and inventory checks (Fox Business).
Public health and hospitals
Local clinics and hospitals should be aware of the recall; although no illnesses are reported, clinicians should ask about recent food exposures when patients present with gastrointestinal symptoms (AARP).
Consumer trust and local food culture
A recall of a natural or small‑batch product can erode trust among health‑conscious shoppers. Local producers and retailers may need to communicate testing and safety practices to reassure customers.
Retail operations and compliance
Stores that sold Spring & Mulberry products should remove any inventory from lot 025255 immediately and coordinate with the company or the FDA for disposal instructions. Marketplace sellers should review listings and remove affected items.
Practical daily effects
For most residents this is a short‑term inconvenience: check cabinets, toss or return the product, and claim a refund. Vulnerable household members should avoid any potential exposure.
How local readers can stay informed
Monitor the FDA recall page and Spring & Mulberry’s customer channels. Keep receipts and packaging until refunds are processed; email recalls@springandmulberry.com with a photo of the lot code for reimbursement.
Reporting and follow-up
Journalists and public health officials will monitor confirmatory test results, any illness reports, and whether the company expands testing or the recall. Consumers with questions should consult Spring & Mulberry’s notice and the FDA recall entry for official updates (FDA; ABC News; Fox Business; Consumer Reports; AARP).
