They’re a summer flavor favorite, and this is the first time we've seen a recall specifically for this controversial reason.
Nearly 70,000 Packages of Cookies Have Been Recalled in 15 States
Published on Jun. 27, 2025
Some sweets just scream summer: A cold slice of watermelon, cherry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and fresh lemon cookies with a drizzle of icing. But if that last treat tickles your tastebuds, you’ll want to hear about a recent recall affecting more than a dozen states.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public to the recall of 5,826 cases of Carley’s Soft Baked Iced Lemon Cookies due to an apparent ingredient misidentification.
The agency’s report states, “Product has a misbranded Yellow Color. Identified on label [as] Artificial Yellow Color, and it should be identified as FD&C Yellow #5.”
FD&C Yellow #5, also known as “tartrazine” or simply “Yellow 5,” is an artificial color additive that’s often found in food products like desserts, sodas, and cereals. While approved by the FDA, products containing Yellow 5 must clearly state the dye’s inclusion on product labels.
Only “color additives exempt from certification can be listed collectively as ‘artificial colors,’” notes the FDA.
The FDA’s cookie recall report states that there are 12 units per case, which calculates to a total of 69,912 recalled packages of cookies.
Based on Carley’s product page for iced lemon cookies, it appears each unit contains six cookies, which, it claims, provide “a delightful fusion of citrus and sweetness in every delicious bite.”
Though the FDA does not share where the cookies may have been sold, Carley’s website says that the company works with “distributors that serve convenience stores, independent grocers, and small retail chains.” A quick internet search suggests these cookies may be sold at retailers like H-E-B and Foodtown. The report specifies that they were distributed to wholesalers, who then shipped the product to retail stores, in 15 states: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The FDA also shared the following product information:
- Product: Carley’s Soft Baked Iced Lemon Cookies, 12 units per case
- Packaging: 5.34 oz plastic tray, clear film overwrap with label
- Universal Product Code (UPC): 7 40235 50011 0
- Exp Date-Lot Code: 01726-040225, 11245-012825, 031026-051425, 061925-082324, 080525-100924, 081725-102124, 091025-111424, 061925-082324, 112425-012825
Carley’s Inc. apparently initiated the voluntary recall on June 6. However, the FDA didn’t classify its risk level until Wednesday, June 25. The cookie recall is reportedly being considered a Class II event. The Class II label is reserved for situations in which “use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
While not mentioned in the FDA report, some studies suggest a potential link between food dyes like Yellow 5 and behavioral issues in children, according to a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Ohio State University. However, more research is needed.
Still, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said that the FDA plans to eliminate Yellow 5, as well as five other synthetic dyes, by the end of 2025, says CNBC.
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