Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice Recall

DATE:  August 21, 2008
SACRAMENTO – Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned consumers not to eat Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice candy after tests by CDPH found elevated levels of lead.

Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice was distributed to Costco stores throughout California.  It has been recalled by the manufacturer, Lucky Country Inc. of North Carolina.

Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice candy comes in a plastic bag measuring 8 ½ inches tall by 8 inches across.  The front of the bag contains the words Lucky Country AUSSIE STYLE SOFT GOURMET in white writing with a red background and the words LICORICE BLACK in white writing on a black background.  The package also contains the words ALL NATURAL in black writing inside a yellow star and a picture of a yellow kangaroo.  The bag of candy has a net weight of 1.5 pounds or 680 grams.  The bag contains approximately 68 individual pieces of licorice.  Each piece of licorice is approximately 1 inch long by ¾ inch wide and is twisted in shape.

Recent analysis of this candy by CDPH determined that the product contained as much as 0.15 parts per million (ppm) of lead.  California considers candies with lead levels in excess of 0.10 ppm to be contaminated. 

Consumers in possession of Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice candy should discard them immediately.  Pregnant women and parents of children who may have consumed this candy should consult their physician or other health care provider to determine if medical testing is needed.

Consumers who find Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice candy for sale are encouraged to call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at 1-800-495-3232.

Via: CDPH

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