Class I (most serious) Food H-0844-2026 Ongoing

FDA Class I recall: Ghirardelli white chocolate flavored powder over possible Salmonella (multi-state)

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company ・Reported May 27, 2026

The U.S. FDA has recorded a Class I recall, its most serious category, for Ghirardelli Chocolate Company's Sweet Ground White Chocolate Flavored Powder (50 oz) due to potential Salmonella contamination (recall number H-0844-2026).

Recall overview (primary data)

ClassificationClass I (most serious)
Product typeFood
Recalling firmGhirardelli Chocolate Company
ReasonPotential contamination with Salmonella.
DistributionU.S. Distribution Pattern: AK, AZ, CA, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MD, ME, MN, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI. Foreign Distribution Pattern: Canada, Guatemala, Japan, Philippin...
Recall initiated2026-04-26

Key points

FDA recall number H-0844-2026; category Food; status Ongoing; report date May 27, 2026.
Affected product is Ghirardelli Chocolate Company's Sweet Ground White Chocolate Flavored Powder (50 oz).
The reason is potential Salmonella contamination, classified as the most serious Class I.
Quantity is 2,267 cases (6 x 50 oz per case), equal to 13,602 units.
Distributed across many states including Alaska, California, Florida, and New York.

Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause foodborne illness, with symptoms that commonly include fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Among the FDA's recall classes, Class I is the most serious designation, used when consuming a product could lead to severe health consequences or death. The record describes the reason as a "potential contamination" rather than confirmed contamination, framing the action as a precautionary step.

The product is a white chocolate flavored powder under the widely recognized Ghirardelli brand, totaling 2,267 cases (six 50 oz units per case), or 13,602 units. Distribution spans multiple states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, and New York. That geographic spread, combined with the Class I designation, illustrates the breadth of the affected footprint.

Salmonella concerns in powdered chocolate and dairy-based ingredients have repeatedly driven recalls across various products in recent years. Because risks at the ingredient stage can carry through even to products from well-known brands, this case is best understood not in isolation but as part of a broader pattern of related, chained recalls.

Why it matters

With 13,602 units distributed across more than a dozen states, the scale points to a wide-reaching burden of inventory checks and removals at retail, foodservice, and confectionery stages. The Class I designation signals a high priority for action across the supply chain, and for businesses handling powdered chocolate or dairy-based ingredients it can serve as a prompt to revisit sourcing traceability and testing practices.

FAQ

What is a Class I recall?

It is the most serious of the FDA's recall classes, used when consuming a product could lead to severe health consequences or death.

What is Salmonella?

It is a bacterium that can cause foodborne illness, with symptoms that commonly include fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Which states received the product?

According to the record, distribution spans multiple states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, and New York.

Sources (primary)

Source: openFDA (U.S. FDA, CC0 public domain). Data is provided as-is and must not be used for medical decisions. Verify the latest and exact details with the official FDA recall information. This site is not endorsed or certified by the U.S. FDA.

#FDA#Class I recall#food recall#Salmonella#Ghirardelli#chocolate#food safety

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