If you have a minty chocolate bar tucked into a desk drawer, gym bag, or pantry shelf, this is one worth checking. On January 12, 2026, Spring & Mulberry announced a voluntary recall of one specific lot of its Mint Leaf Date Sweetened Chocolate Bar because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.
No illnesses have been reported so far, but the recall is meant to prevent problems before they start. It is the kind of alert that can feel easy to scroll past until you remember how fast a snack can disappear, especially around kids and busy afternoons.
What is being recalled and how to identify it
The recall applies to lot 025255 of the Mint Leaf Date Sweetened Chocolate Bar in a 2.1 ounce size. The product has been sold online and through select retail partners nationwide since September 15, 2025.
You can spot it by looking for the teal box with the Mint Leaf flavor name and then confirming the lot code on the back of the packaging and on the inner wrapper. If you still have the outer box but tossed the wrapper, or vice versa, it is worth checking both since the lot code can appear in more than one place.
Why Salmonella can be serious, even when you feel fine at first
Salmonella is a bacteria that can causefever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. For most healthy people, symptoms can be miserable but temporary, though cases can become more dangerous for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems<.
What makes foodborne illness tricky is timing. You might eat something on a Monday and not connect the dots when you feel sick days later, which is one reason experts stress paying attention to lot codes recall notices. For a plain-language rundown of warning signs, see the CDC’s page on Symptoms of Salmonella Infection.
What customers are being told to do now
Customers who bought the affected lot are being asked to dispose of the product. That can feel wasteful, but it is the simplest way to reduce risk, especially if the bar might end up in a lunchbox or shared snack bowl.
Refunds are available with proof of the lot code. The company says customers can email recalls@springandmulberry.com and include a photo of the lot code to request a refund.
What triggered the recall and what it says about food testing
According to the announcement, the possible contamination was identified after routine testing by a third-party laboratory. That detail matters because it suggests the issue was caught through monitoring, not after a wave of reported sickness, which can sometimes happen in other food safety cases.
Still, a recall is a reminder that even products that look sealed and shelf-stable are not automatically risk-free. If you want a broader, practical explainer on how Salmonella shows up in food and how to reduce risk in the kitchen, FoodSafety.gov has a consumer-focused overview called Salmonella and Food.
The main announcement has been published on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.
