Canadian Firm Recalls Gourmet Cocoa Products for Melamine

Alida Antonia Cornelius

December 20, 2008

The Saudis found melamine in their Nestle's Milk Drink a few weeks ago.

 Americans, who shop at Big Lots and and Shopko, may find melamine in their Christmas cocoa, or they probably have already ingested the products, since they were on the market in September and October. This is a bit late for consumers. 

Here is the FDA public news release about the most recent recall in the ongoing melamine scandal from China. The odd part of this release is that there are no photos of the products. (Update: I just got a email from the company and they said they are going to add photos to the news release.)

I think people have been consuming melamine for a long time and only the deaths of the babies in China brought it to light.

Why else are kidney stones on the rise in American children? Melamine consumption can cause kidney stones.

It's food for thought.

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Recall -- Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Dorsey Marketing Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Three G&J Gourmet Market Cocoa Products: 120126, 120129, 120144

Contact:
Tim Acheson
1-888-645-1053

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- December 19, 2008 -- Dorsey Marketing Inc. (DMI) of Ville St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada, is voluntarily recalling the following three G&J Gourmet Market cocoa products because these products may contain melamine:

1. G&J Hot Cocoa Stuffer Item 120144 (UPC 061361201444). This hot cocoa product was sold in small green and blue boxes with a backer card, candy cane and marshmallows.
2. G&J His and Hers Hot Cocoa Set Item 120129 (UPC 489702201296). This cocoa product was sold with 2 ceramic mugs in a brown box.
3. G&J Cocoa item 120126, sold in 2 flavors: French Vanilla Cocoa and Double Chocolate Cocoa
   1. G&J French Vanilla Cocoa (UPC 061361201260). This product was sold in a small green bag with a whisk attached.
   2. G&J Double Chocolate Cocoa (UPC 061361201260). This product was sold in a small pink bag with a whisk attached.

No injuries have been reported and only a few samples have, in fact, been found to include melamine. However, DMI is proceeding with this recall in the interest of public health and the safety of American consumers.

The above recalled products were imported into the United States by DMI and distributed nationwide to retailer Big Lots during the weeks of September 22, 2008 and September 29, 2008 and to retailer Shopko during the week of October 10, 2008.