Sweet Sam’s Baking Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Starbucks Black & White Mini Cookies


Sweet Sam's Baking Company of Bronx, NY is recalling all lots of Starbucks Black & White Mini Cookies sold in Starbucks Company operated stores on or before Thursday, April 23rd, 2015, because they contain milk, an allergen that is not declared on the packaging. People who have an allergy to milk run the risk of experiencing a serious or life-threatening reaction if they consume the product.

The Black & White Mini Cookies were sold in Starbucks Company -operated stores in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

The product comes in a 2.0 oz. (56 g) clear film package, each containing two cookies.

Printed upon the front of the package are the words “Black & White Mini Cookies”, “A New York City Favorite”, and “SKU 408785”. On the rear panel, among other details, are the words, “Manufactured for: Starbucks Coffee Company”, and UPC code “833282000495”.

The recall was initiated by Sweet Sam's Baking Company after it was discovered that the label did not reveal the presence of milk. Two customers with milk allergies reported having an allergic reaction after consuming the product. No other illnesses have been reported to date. A product packaging review determined that the private-label packaging design omitted the presence of milk from the ingredient panel. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by an oversight in the design process of the private label. The packaging for Black & White Cookies sold under Sweet Sam's own trademark does not suffer from this error. The company will be revising the labeling of the product before re-introducing onto the market.

Consumers who have purchased packages of Black & White Mini Cookies sold at Starbucks and have an allergy to milk are urged to discard the product or return it to any Starbucks store for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Starbucks’s Customer Relations at 1-800-782-7282, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time.

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