Karns Foods recalls Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups over undeclared peanuts

MECHANICSBURG, PA (April 3, 2026) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a voluntary recall issued by Karns Foods of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, covering its 8 oz packages of Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups due to undeclared peanuts. According to the FDA, the product may contain peanuts that are not listed on the label. People with peanut allergies face the risk of a serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Karns Foods recall: Quick summary

Karns Foods announced a voluntary recall on April 2, 2026, after discovering that a batch of its Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups was distributed in packaging that did not disclose the presence of peanuts. The issue traces back to a temporary breakdown in the company’s packaging process. Only 26 to 42 packs were affected, and all were pulled from shelves on January 30, 2026. The recall is limited to a single pack date — September 18, 2025 — and applies only to Karns Foods locations in Pennsylvania. No illnesses have been reported to date.

What happened?

The FDA said Karns Foods initiated the voluntary recall on April 2, 2026, after determining that its Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups were distributed in packaging that did not declare the presence of peanuts. The FDA published the alert the following day, April 3, 2026.

Karns Foods told regulators the issue stemmed from a temporary breakdown in the company’s packaging processes. As a result, a peanut-containing product reached customers in packaging that omitted peanuts from the ingredient label. The company acted quickly. Products carrying the affected pack date were pulled from all store shelves on January 30, 2026. Karns also notified registered rewards program shoppers who had purchased the product at that time.

In its recall notice, Karns Foods confirmed:

“The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the peanut-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of peanuts as an active ingredient.”

The FDA confirmed that no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	Pack date	Issue	Affected states
Karns Foods	Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups	8 oz clear plastic package	September 18, 2025	Undeclared peanuts	Pennsylvania

What caused the issue?

The recall stems from a packaging process failure, not a formulation error. The Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups do contain peanuts. However, a temporary breakdown in the packaging process resulted in the product being placed in packaging that did not declare peanuts on the label.

Why peanut labeling matters

Peanuts are one of the nine major food allergens recognized under federal law. Manufacturers must clearly declare them on all product packaging. For individuals with peanut allergies, even a small amount of undeclared peanut protein can trigger a severe reaction.

Symptoms of a peanut allergic reaction range from hives and swelling to vomiting, difficulty breathing, and anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a rapid, full body allergic response that can be fatal without immediate treatment. The FDA classifies undeclared peanut allergen recalls as some of the most serious consumer safety events precisely because of this risk.

Scope of the recall

The recall is notably small in scope. Only 26 to 42 packs are affected, all from a single production run stamped with a September 18, 2025, pack date. Distribution was limited to Karns Foods store locations in Pennsylvania. The company had already removed the product from shelves on January 30, 2026 — more than two months before the FDA published its formal alert on April 3, 2026.

Questions you might have

1. What product is being recalled? Karns Foods is recalling its Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups, sold in 8 oz clear plastic packages. Only products marked with a pack date of September 18, 2025, are included. This date appears on the packaging and identifies the specific batch.
2. How do I identify if I have the recalled product? Check the pack date on the clear plastic package. If it reads September 18, 2025, and you purchased it at a Karns Foods store in Pennsylvania, the product is part of this recall. Dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
3. Where was this product sold? The recall applies exclusively to Karns Foods store locations in Pennsylvania. The company operates ten stores across Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, and York counties. No other retailers are included.
4. What caused peanuts to appear in a product without being labeled? Karns Foods identified a temporary breakdown in its packaging process as the cause. The product itself contains peanuts, but a specific batch was placed in packaging that did not list peanuts as an ingredient. The company has since corrected the packaging process.
5. Were any illnesses or allergic reactions reported? No. As of the recall announcement on April 2, 2026, Karns Foods confirmed that no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.
6. What should I do if I already consumed this product and have a peanut allergy? Monitor yourself for symptoms immediately. These include hives, swelling, stomach cramps, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. If you experience any of these, contact a healthcare provider or call 911 without delay. Anaphylaxis can develop rapidly and requires emergency treatment.
7. What are the symptoms of a peanut allergic reaction? Symptoms range from mild to severe. Mild reactions include skin redness, hives, itching, runny nose, and stomach discomfort. Severe reactions include throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Any severe reaction is a medical emergency — call 911 immediately.
8. How can I get a refund? Return the product to the Karns Foods location where you purchased it for a full refund. For additional questions, contact Karns Foods directly at 717-766-6477, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST.
9. Is this a voluntary recall or was it ordered by the FDA? This is a voluntary recall initiated by Karns Foods after identifying the packaging process error. The company acted on its own initiative and conducted the recall with the knowledge of the FDA.
10. How many products are involved in this recall? The recall covers approximately 26 to 42 packs — a very small number. All affected products carry the September 18, 2025, pack date and were already removed from Karns Foods store shelves on January 30, 2026.

Here’s what you should do

• What to do with the product: Return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Do not consume it if you have a peanut allergy.
• Where to look on the label: Check the pack date on the clear plastic packaging. The affected date is September 18, 2025.
• How to identify the affected product: An 8 oz clear plastic package of Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups with pack date September 18, 2025, purchased at a Karns Foods store in Pennsylvania.
• Brand contact details: Karns Foods — 717-766-6477, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST.

Behind the brand

Karns Foods is a family-owned grocery chain founded in 1959 by David Karns in central Pennsylvania. It started as a butcher shop in New Cumberland and grew into a regional supermarket group now operating ten stores across Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, and York counties. Today, the company is led by CEO Andrea Karns — the third generation of the Karns family — and welcomes more than 100,000 shoppers each week. The company employs approximately 1,300 people and is known for its full-service meat department, local produce partnerships, and commitment to the central Pennsylvania community.

Karns Foods produces a range of store-branded products, including bakery items and packaged goods sold exclusively at its locations. Source86 reached out to Karns Foods for additional comment on how the packaging breakdown occurred, but has not yet received a response beyond the company’s published recall notice.

Other relevant recalls

Undeclared peanut allergens in packaged goods are a recurring concern across the food industry. Several similar cases have occurred in recent months. In March 2026, Schreiber Foods recalled 144 cases of Einstein Bros Bagels Honey Almond Cream Cheese Spread after a packaging staging error placed almond-containing cream cheese in cups labeled as plain — another case where a packaging process failure led to an undeclared allergen reaching consumers. Also in March 2026, Blueroot Health recalled two lots of Vital Nutrients Aller-C supplements after routine testing found undeclared egg, hazelnut, and soy absent from product labels. The Mama Grande Tortilla Factory recall, also in March 2026, covered two products distributed to Texas retailers without declaring wheat and soy. In December 2025, White Castle recalled its Original Sliders for undeclared milk and soy. And in November 2025, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream recalled Passion Fruit Dreamsicle Ice Cream Bars for undeclared wheat and soy. Together, these cases reflect how packaging and labeling failures continue to put allergic consumers at risk across every category of food.

While traditional grocery retailers like Karns Foods are primarily focused on navigating the strict complexities of allergen labeling and local bakery compliance, the broader chocolate category is simultaneously facing intense regulatory scrutiny on an entirely different front. Highlighting the extreme liability associated with the booming “functional” and novelty confections market, federal regulators recently triggered a major crackdown resulting in the national recall of Nalpac’s ‘DTF’ Sexual Chocolate. For CPG risk management teams and retail buyers, comparing a standard local bakery recall with a high-stakes functional food recall demonstrates the sheer spectrum of regulatory threats brands must actively monitor in today’s highly scrutinized confectionery landscape.

A food safety specialist familiar with retail allergen compliance noted that packaging process failures are often avoidable.

“Most undeclared allergen events at the packaging stage trace back to one of two things: a missing verification step on the line, or a temporary substitution that wasn’t caught in time. Both are preventable with the right controls in place.”

A food allergy advocate added:

“For someone with a serious peanut allergy, an undeclared peanut in a chocolate dessert product is exactly the kind of hidden risk they spend their lives trying to avoid. Accurate labeling is not optional — it is a lifeline.”

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said the Karns Foods recall reflects how even small-scale operations must maintain rigorous packaging controls:

“Food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust. Every recall reminds us how vital it is to maintain transparency, rigorous checks, and supplier accountability — and that applies equally to a local grocer’s own-brand product as it does to a national food manufacturer.”

Ensuring safe eats

The Karns Foods recall is a reminder that even a small production run can carry serious risk when an allergen goes undeclared. Fortunately, the scope here is narrow — fewer than 42 packs, from a single pack date, at a regional chain in Pennsylvania. Karns Foods acted quickly. The company pulled the product from shelves on January 30, 2026, and notified loyalty program shoppers before the FDA formally published the alert.

If you purchased Mini Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups from a Karns Foods location in Pennsylvania with a pack date of September 18, 2025, return the product to the store for a full refund. Do not consume it if you have a peanut allergy.

At Source86, we help food brands manage ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, and private label production with transparency and precision — ensuring that when recalls happen, supply chains are prepared to respond quickly. Our team works directly with manufacturers to implement the packaging verification and allergen control protocols that prevent incidents like this from reaching consumers in the first place. Reach out to learn how Source86 can support your brand’s food safety program.