More than 6,000 cases of repackaged M&M’s have been urgently recalled across the United States after authorities discovered that the products contained undeclared allergens, posing a serious risk to individuals with food allergies.

The recall affects promotional packs of M&M’s distributed across 20 US states, where milk, peanuts, and soy were present in the product but not listed on the packaging.

Reason for Recall: Undeclared Milk, Peanut, and Soy Allergens

According to food safety officials, the affected products were missing proper allergen declarations, which could result in adverse reactions for consumers with sensitivities.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the incident as a Class II recall, meaning exposure may cause:

• Temporary health consequences

• Medically reversible allergic reactions

While not the most severe category, the classification still signals a major labelling failure.

Promotional Distribution Raises Additional Safety Concerns

What makes this recall particularly concerning is that these M&M’s were not sold through traditional retail or supermarket channels.

Instead, they were repackaged for promotional use and distributed at:

1. Corporate events
2. University campuses
3. Conferences
4. Branded giveaways

In such settings, consumers are less likely to inspect ingredient labels carefully, increasing the risk for accidental allergen exposure.

Company Involved: Beacon Promotions Inc.

The repackaging was carried out by Beacon Promotions Inc., a company that produces custom-branded promotional products.

The recalled sweets included 1.3-ounce packs of Peanut M&M’s, marketed under campaign-style names such as:

“Make Your Mark”

Some versions were also branded for major organisations, including:

• Morgan Stanley

• Adobe

• Xfinity

• Subaru

States Affected

The recalled products were distributed widely across the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The broad distribution has raised concerns about how far the products may have spread through promotional networks.

No Illnesses Reported Yet

Despite the large-scale recall, authorities have confirmed that no illnesses or allergic reaction cases have been reported so far.

However, officials stress that consumers should remain vigilant, especially since promotional snacks may be stored and consumed months later.

Consumer Advice

The FDA urges anyone who may have received promotional packs of M&M’s to:

• Check packaging and lot details carefully

• Avoid consuming the product if allergen labelling is unclear

• Dispose of the product or contact distributors for guidance

Full recall details, including lot numbers and sell-by dates, are available through the FDA’s official recall database.

Food Safety Reminder

This incident highlights a growing concern in food safety: repackaged and promotional food items may bypass the level of scrutiny consumers apply to supermarket products.

Accurate allergen labelling remains critical, as undeclared allergens are one of the leading causes of food recalls globally.

Source: US FDA