This might be an unpleasant surprise for some folks.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety alert about Bauer’s Candies Modjeskas, warning that they may have been contaminated with hepatitis A. And QVC sold them, the FDA said.
“We are advising consumers not to eat and to throw away any Bauer’s Candies Chocolate or Caramel Modjeskas, purchased after Nov. 14, 2018, because a worker in the facility tested positive for hepatitis A,” the FDA said.
The Modjeskas are an individually wrapped marshmallow candy dipped in chocolate or caramel.
“These products are available at retail locations and can also be purchased through QVC and BauersCandy.com,” the FDA said. “We are currently working with Bauer’s Candies, located in Kentucky, on a voluntary recall of affected products.”
Here’s the rest of the consumer alert:
At this time, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are not aware of any cases of hepatitis A related to consumption of these candies. Hepatitis A can have a long incubation period and can have serious health consequences for some people, especially those with other health problems.
Although the risk of hepatitis A transmission from the candy is low, FDA recommends that consumers who ate candies purchased after Nov. 14, 2018, and have not been vaccinated for hepatitis A consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is indicated.
PEP may be recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the last 2 weeks; those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination do not require PEP.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with HAV. When symptoms occur, they can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.
Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter — even in microscopic amounts — from an infected person; this can happen when an infected person prepares food without appropriate hand hygiene, even before that person shows symptoms of illness.
The FDA recommends that anyone who ate Bauer’s Candies Chocolate or Caramel Modjeskas purchased after Nov. 14 consult with their healthcare provider to determine whether PEP is indicated.
Consumers and retailers should throw away and not consume any chocolate or caramel Modjeskas purchased that November date last year.