Mail-order chocolates recalled

WASHINGTON (AP) _ An Idaho chocolate company is recalling batches of Florence's Exquisite Candies that may contain peanuts and other ingredients not listed on the label _ posing a risk to people with

Friday, March 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ An Idaho chocolate company is recalling batches of Florence's Exquisite Candies that may contain peanuts and other ingredients not listed on the label _ posing a risk to people with certain allergies.

Recalled are batches of Florence's assorted milk and dark chocolates, nuts and caramels, and Cherry Cordials, as well as solid chocolate novelties.

The recalled chocolates may contain undeclared peanuts, macadamia nuts, milk or the dyes yellow No. 5 and 6. People allergic to any of those ingredients should not eat the candy.

One illness has been reported, a man hospitalized several weeks ago during an apparent peanut allergy attack.

About 500 boxes of chocolates were sold nationwide by mail order at Christmas, and chocolate novelties were sold at Florence's retail store in Rexburg, Idaho. The Food and Drug Administration discovered the labeling problem this week and ordered a recall, worried that allergic consumers may have uneaten candy still on hand.

Most of the candy boxes bear a four-digit code. Recalled are those beginning with 01, and any beginning with 02 if the last two digits are lower than 63, the FDA said. Products coded 02-63 and higher are properly labeled. Boxed novelty chocolates, however, do not bear a code.

Consumers may contact Florence's, also known as Mom's Kandy Kitchen, at (208) 356-3000.