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T-96-18                                     Donald McLearn
March 22, 1996                              (301) 827-6242
 
FDA INVESTIGATES POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION
 
     The Food and Drug Administration is investigating possible
tampering with certain types of Canadian-made chocolates sold in
the United States by a West Coast outlet, Trader Joe's, a West
Coast and Illinois outlet, Cost Plus, and by Starbucks Coffee
Co., a nationwide retailer.
     The action is being taken as a result of anonymous letters
received by all three firms which alleged that some products
manufactured by Tout Sweet Chocolates, Ltd., of Richmond, B.C.,
Canada, may have been contaminated.
     Following receipt of the letters, all three firms have
removed all Tout Sweet Chocolate products from their shelves.
Cost Plus and Starbucks also have asked consumers to return for a
refund any such chocolates purchased in their stores. Cost Plus
retails Tout Sweet Chocolate products under its own brand name of
"World Market."
     At present FDA has insufficient information to determine
whether or not the product is contaminated. The agency
investigates all tamperings with food and other regulated
                             -more-
                                  Page 2, T96-18, Tout Sweet
products in accordance with a federal law that defines tampering
or threats of tampering a crime subject to severe penalties.
     The following Tout Sweet products were withdrawn by
Starbucks:
     Bird's nest filled with chocolate truffles, SKU 114981,
     and 116869
     Printed tin egg filled with chocolate bunnies, SKU 121597
     and 121598
     Foiled hearts in a bag, SKU 120513
     Individual foiled hearts
     Mint, milk, and dark chocolate medallions
 
     Products withdrawn by Cost Plus carry the brand name "World
Market" and are described as follows:
     Chocolate Milk Mint, SKU 59517
     Chocolate Dark Mint, SKU 59518
     Chocolate Raspberry, SKU 59519
     Chocolate Coffee, SKU 59520
     Chocolate Tri-pack, SKU 65073
     Milk Chocolate Bar, SKU 75584
     Dark Chocolate Bar, SKU 75585
     Coffee Bar, SKU 75586
     Hazelnut Bar, SKU 75587
 
     The following Tout Sweet products were removed from sale by
Trader
 
Joe's:
 
     Almond Truffle Bar
     Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar
     Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar
     Capuccino Truffle Bar
     Tout Sweet Dark Kona Coffee Hedgehog & Coffee Chocolate
                              ####

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