By Swikblog
With Valentine’s Day displays already filling supermarket aisles and gift boxes piling up online, a nationwide chocolate bar recall has widened in a way that’s hard to ignore. Spring & Mulberry has expanded a voluntary recall of select chocolate products after routine testing indicated potential Salmonella contamination. The timing matters: chocolate moves fast in late January and early February, and many shoppers won’t think to check a lot code once a bar is tucked into a drawer, a pantry, or a Valentine’s hamper.
The recall began with one product and has since grown to include additional varieties, meaning more households could have the affected items without realising it. While no illnesses had been reported at the time of the latest update, food-safety guidance is consistent: if your product matches a recalled lot code, don’t taste-test it “just to see” and don’t assume it’s safe because it looks or smells normal. Salmonella can’t be detected by sight, smell, or texture.
According to the company’s notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the expanded recall follows third-party testing of finished products performed by a contract manufacturer. The original recall focused on the Mint Leaf date-sweetened chocolate bar, and the expansion added seven more flavors. The affected chocolates were sold online and through select retailers nationwide beginning in mid-September 2025, which is why some shoppers may be spotting them in cupboards now rather than in recent shopping bags.
The products named in reporting around the expansion include the Mint Leaf bar plus additional varieties such as Earl Grey, Lavender Rose, Mango Chili, Mixed Berry, Mulberry Fennel, Pecan Date, and Pure Dark Minis. The key detail is the lot code printed on the packaging. If you have any Spring & Mulberry chocolate at home, it’s worth pulling the box out and checking the code carefully—especially if the chocolate was purchased as a gift, added to a wellness hamper, or stocked up during an earlier seasonal promotion.
Health officials warn that Salmonella infection can cause fever, diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. For many people, symptoms can be unpleasant but temporary. The bigger concern is the small subset of cases where infection becomes severe, especially among young children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with a weakened immune system. In rare instances, Salmonella can move beyond the gut and become dangerous if it spreads to the bloodstream or other organs.
If you suspect you bought a recalled product, the safest move is simple: don’t eat it, don’t serve it, and don’t donate it. Keep the packaging long enough to confirm the lot code, then follow the company’s instructions for refunds or replacements. Reports on the recall indicate customers may be asked to email the brand with a photo showing the product and lot information before discarding it. If anyone in your household has already eaten the chocolate and develops symptoms—particularly persistent fever, signs of dehydration, or symptoms that worsen rather than improve—seek medical advice promptly.
- Check cupboards, desks, gift bags, and snack drawers for Spring & Mulberry chocolate products purchased since September 2025.
- Match the lot code on the packaging against the company’s recall notice.
- Do not consume recalled items, even if they appear fine.
- Follow refund or replacement instructions and discard the product safely once documented.
- If symptoms appear after consumption, consult a healthcare professional—extra caution for high-risk groups.
For shoppers, the biggest takeaway is that “Valentine’s chocolate” isn’t just heart-shaped boxes. Many people buy premium bars for gifting, stocking stuffers, office treats, or dessert boards, and those purchases can sit for weeks. If you’re building a Valentine’s basket or planning a dinner-night spread, double-check what you already own before you wrap it, serve it, or add it to a gift bag.
The most reliable source for the current recall scope, product photos, and the company’s official instructions is the FDA’s recall posting: Spring & Mulberry recall notice on the FDA website. Because recall lists can change as new information comes in, it’s smart to refer to the FDA notice rather than relying on memory or a single screenshot.
On Swikblog, we’ll keep tracking consumer alerts that affect everyday shoppers, especially during high-purchase seasons when items move quickly and gifting makes it easier for recalled products to travel from one home to another. If you want more practical explainers and breaking updates, you can browse the latest posts on Swikblog and share this article with friends who are already shopping for Valentine’s Day treats.
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