The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has upgraded the recall of about two dozen candies and snacks sold at retailers including Target and Walmart to its highest level of health hazard.

Shoppers will want to check their pantries because some of the products – recalled for potential salmonella contamination – have best-by dates into April 2025. The candies and snacks sold by Palmer Candy Co., of Sioux City, Iowa, were recalled on May 6 because the white candy coatings on the pretzels, cookies and other snacks may have been contaminated, according to the FDA.

The products were distributed nationwide in Dollar General, HyVee, Target and Walmart stores and to wholesalers in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, the FDA says.

USA TODAY Recall Database:Search vehicle, product and food recalls

FDA: Palmer Candy recall classified as 'serious'

Last week, the FDA upgraded the recall of Palmer Candy products to a Class I level, because "there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death," according to the agency's definitions. The recall update was first reported by the Consumer Affairs website.

Lower classifications are given when a product may lead to "temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences" (Class II) or the product is unlikely "to cause adverse health consequences" (Class III), according to the FDA.

At the time of the original recall, Palmer Candy CEO Marty Palmer said production of the products had been halted pending an investigation.

"While there is a very, very small chance (of contamination), when you are working with food and safety, 99.9% is not 100%," he told the Des Moines Register, a part of the USA TODAY Network.

The potential problem involved dairy powders provided to the maker of the candy coating.

“It was a supplier of a supplier,” Palmer said.

Recalled Palmer Candy products and Best By Dates

Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled white-coated confectionary items are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Here's the recalled products and their Best By Dates:

Products Best-By Dates

• Caramel Swirl Pretzels 4oz           12/18/24-12/28/2024
• Caramel Swirl Pretzels  6oz           12/19/24, 12/20/24 and 1/19/25
• Classic Yogurt Pretzels 28#               12/11/24 - 1/8/25
• Cookies & Cream Yummy Chow 14#        12/6/24 - 1/23/25
• Drizzled Caramel Corn 5oz 1/22/25
• Drizzled Caramel Corn Snack Mix Bowl 12oz 1/22/25
• Enrobed Pretzel Rods 8oz             1/22/25
• Favorite Day Bakery White Fudge Mini Cookies 7oz  4/4/25, 4/5/25, 4/15/25, 4/18/25
• Frosted Munchy Medley Bowl 15oz          1/3/25
• Frosted Patriot Frosted Pretzels 28#         1/2/25, 1/3/25
• Frosted Pretzels 6oz        1/23/25
• Munchy Medley 15#       12/14/24, 1/3/25
• Munchy Medley 4oz        12/25/24-12/28/24 and 1/19/25
• Munchy Medley 6oz        12/20/24
• Munchy Medley To Go 4oz           12/25/24, 1/19/25
• Patriotic Munchy Medley Bowl  15oz        1/19/25
• Patriotic Pretzels 14oz     1/25/25, 1/26/25
• Patriotic Pretzels  6oz      1/19/25
• Patriotic Red, White & Blue Pretzel Twists  14oz        12/13/24 - 1/15/25
• Patriotic Snack Mix 13oz               1/19/25, 1/22/25 and 2/1/25
• Patriotic Snack Mix 7oz         4/23/25, 4/24/25
• Patriotic White Fudge Cookies  13.5oz     4/22/25
• Peanut Butter Snack Mix 12oz     11/13/24 - 12/15/24
• Peanut Butter Snack Mix To Go 4.5oz       1/18/25
• Snackin’ With the Crew! Mizzou Munchy Medley 7oz 12/18/24, 12/19/24
• Snackin’ With the Crew! Tiger Treats  7oz               12/18/24, 12/19/24
• Star Snacks Chow Down 25#       12/6/24, 12/7/24
• Strawberry Yogurt Coated Pretzels 10oz 1/5/25, 1/23/25
• Sweet Smiles Yogurt Covered Pretzels 3.25oz              12/18/24 - 1/4/25
• Vanilla Yogurt Covered Pretzels  10oz       12/18/24, 1/5/25, 1/22/25
• Yogurt Pretzel 14#           12/14/24 - 12/21/24
• Zebra Fudge Cookies  7oz             3/20/25-4/30/25

What is salmonella? And what are symptoms of salmonella poisoning?

Salmonella is a bacteria that can get into the food production chain when those handling food do not wash their hands and the process isn't kept sanitary, according to the FDA. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning can start six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. Symptoms include:

• Bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than three days without improving
• Diarrhea and fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit
• Stomach cramps
• Lots of vomiting, especially if it prevents you from keeping liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, including dry mouth and throat, infrequent peeing and dizziness when standing

Contributing: Kevin Baskins, Gabe Hauari and James Powel.Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day