Take a glance in your fridge or pantry—here's why these spreads are currently being flagged.
If the approaching holidays have put cozy bites on your mind, you might be stocking up for family breakfasts and baked goods that are as appealing to the eye as they are to the appetite. Whether for these or for a typical PB&J, it’s worth being aware that two popular varieties of jam were just recently recalled in California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington states.
A November 18 notice from the FDA reports that Mangalm LLC, a San Francisco Bay Area maker of Tops brand jams, recalled two berry-based flavors, mixed fruit and strawberry, that were distributed in the above four states. Our research ascertains that this brand is separate from the Northeastern supermarket chain known as Tops.
It’s reported that during an FDA inspection at the manufacturer, the recalled jams were found to contain carmoisine, which the FDA describes as “an unapproved color additive, that can present health concerns to consumers.” Also known as E122 or azorubine, some forms are used in medications to modify the effect of the active ingredient. Others may be used under supervision, including in Europe, in foods like dried fruits and cheese, as well as beverages. It’s particularly well known for utility in heat-treated foods, such as fruit preserves.
Recalled product details include:
- Tops Mixed Fruit Jam (475 grams), batch #4F1101 with best before date of 10/06/2026
- Tops Strawberry Jam (475 grams), batch #4F1101 with best before date of 10/06/2026
Tuesday afternoon Pacific time, a representative with the company told us that the jams would have been distributed mostly to “ethnic Indian food stores,” adding that most of the product in question has been removed from sale. The FDA report also notes the company has halted distribution of the products at this time.
Via the FDA alert, Mangalm provided the following steps to consumers who purchased the product:
- Discard the product (or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund).
- For questions, contact our consumer hotline [The company’s contact details are available at the FDA link above.]
- If you feel unwell after consuming the product, please seek medical attention and mention the product.
In the FDA notice, Mangalm calls itself “a wholesale distributor for ready-to-eat sweets and snacks for instant use as well as partially cooked food” whose coverage area encompasses the “whole west coast of United States from San Diego to Seattle and Phoenix to San Francisco.” [sic]
Market data suggests that in the United States, strawberry is the most popular flavor of jam (preserves containing seeds), while grape is a winner for jelly lovers.
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