Editor’s note: This article is part of a series of end-of-year roundups that Spectrum News Hawaii will publish during the month of December. We hope you enjoy these reflections on local news in 2025.
Throughout the year, Spectrum News Hawaii has covered every recall issued in our state. The state Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch alerts the public to recalls because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, undeclared allergens, and other reasons. From infant formula to eye drops, here’s a look back at some recalls.
1. Shirakiku brand Curvee Puffs Corn Puff Snack Curry Flavor
The Hawaii Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch issued an alert in January for a recall of products by Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. for its Shirakiku brand Curvee Puffs Corn Puff Snack – Curry Flavor, because the label does not inform consumers that the recalled product may contain milk, which is an allergen. Retail stores throughout Hawaii sold the recalled product. People with an allergy or high sensitivity to milk could risk a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume or are exposed to the product, per the DOH.
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
2. MYY Trade Co. brand enoki mushrooms
The Hawaii Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch issued an alert in March for MYY Trade Co. brand enoki mushrooms because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These products were sold at Palama Supermarket stores in a 7.05-ounce (200g) clear and blue plastic package. The DOH Laboratory Preparedness and Response Branch and FDB discovered the potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination after conducting a routine food sampling and analysis, which is funded by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration federal grant. The FDB selects and collects certain food products to test for microbiological contaminants. Listeria monocytogenes, if consumed through food, can cause listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection.
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
3. Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert in April regarding a voluntary recall started by Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company. The recall is for its Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias (0.6-ounce and 4-ounce bags), which may contain almonds and cashews not declared on its label. The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company ordered the recall after identifying that the affected batch, manufactured by a third-party co-manufacturer, contained undeclared almonds and cashews. People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds and cashews may risk a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product.
(Image courtesy FDA)
4. Tetra ReptoMin turtle food
The Hawaii Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch issued an alert in May for a recall of products by Spectrum Brands Pet, LLC, for its Tetra ReptoMin 3-In-1 SELECT-A-FOOD reptile food product for aquatic turtles because of potential Salmonella contamination. Hawaii residents may have purchased the recalled products at Walmart stores in the state or online via Chewy and Amazon. Aquatic turtles are not usually impacted by Salmonella, but may be carriers of the bacteria without showing any symptoms and infect other animals or humans. People can become infected by handling contaminated food, having contact with pets who have consumed contaminated food, or having contact with surfaces that touched contaminated food.
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
5. Zicam products, Orajel baby teething swabs
The Hawaii Department of Health Food and Drug Branch alerts residents to products being recalled by Church & Dwight Co., Inc. due to potential microbial contamination in the cotton swab components. The recalled products have been distributed nationwide, including supermarkets and drugstores in Hawaii. The recall is exclusively for Zicam® and Orajel™ swab products. No other Zicam® and Orajel™ products are affected by the recall. Swabs with microbial contamination could pose a significant risk to consumers, including serious, life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and/or injury.
(Images from Church & Dwight Co., Inc. website)
6. RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches
The Hawaii Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch issued an alert in July regarding a recall started by Mondelēz Global LLC. The recall is for its RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches (8-pack, 20-pack and 40-pack cartons) and RITZ Filled Cracker Sandwich Variety Pack (20-pack) because the peanuts are not accurately labeled on the individually wrapped packs. According to a DOH news release, the individually wrapped packs may be incorrectly labeled as the cheese variety — even though the product within may be the peanut butter variety. However, the outer packs are correctly labeled as peanut and include an allergen advisory. The recalled products were distributed nationwide, including at grocery stores in Hawaii. People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts may risk a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product.
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
7. Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini
The Hawaii Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch issued an alert in October for a recall of products by Demers Food Group for select lots of Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini product, because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The shrimp scampi product contains a recalled linguini pasta ingredient supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods, which was recalled for Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Supermarkets and other retailers sold these products nationwide, including Safeway in Hawaii.
Related: Hawaii reports two Listeria cases, including one death, with no link to recalled pre-made pastas
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
8. Meadow Gold Dairy chocolate milk
The Hawaii Department of Health alerted residents to a recall issued by Meadow Gold Dairy for its half-pint-sized chocolate milk marked with an October 16, 2025, expiration date. Made and packaged out of state, the chocolate milk is being recalled voluntarily because of potential quality control issues, according to a release. Approximately 70,000 units were received on Sept. 29 and distributed statewide, including schools on Oahu, Maui and Kauai. The DOH urges the public to discard any Meadow Gold chocolate milk product “that looks, smells or tastes unusual.”
Related: DOH confirms illnesses at 15 Oahu schools; possibly linked to recalled Meadow Gold Dairy chocolate milk
(Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
9. Sea Port brand frozen shrimp
The Hawaii Department of Health Food and Drug Branch alerts the public to a frozen shrimp recall issued by Sea Port Products Corp. The item being recalled is the Sea Port brand Raw Frozen Easy Peel White Shrimp, Jumbo size 16/20, because of possible cesium-137 contamination. This is the second Cesium-related recall of frozen shrimp in two weeks. The first recall was issued on September 26 by Southwind Foods, LLC, for certain Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American and First Street frozen shrimp products. Cesium-137 was detected in a single shipment of imported frozen shrimp that did not enter U.S. commerce, according to DOH, and no product testing positive for Cesium-137 has entered U.S. markets. It’s because of unsanitary conditions that a recall is being issued for frozen shrimp products originating from the foreign seafood processor, per DOH.
(Photos courtesy of DOH)
10. Moonlight Companies’ yellow and white peaches
The Hawaii Department of Health Food and Drug Branch alerts residents to a recall issued on Oct. 31 by Moonlight Companies for its Moonlight yellow and white peaches because of Listeria monocytogenes found in the packing facility, according to a news release. The peaches were distributed nationwide from Sept. 16 through Oct. 29 to retail stores and supermarkets such as Costco, Target, Whole Foods, Times Supermarkets and Big Save in Hawaii. The recall does not include packages or PLU stickers with the words “Washington” and/or “Organic.”
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
11. ByHeart infant formulas
The Hawaii Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch issued an alert in November after ByHeart Inc. recalled two batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula because of possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that can cause infant botulism. The following day, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the recall was expanded to comprise all ByHeart infant formula products, including cans and single-serve sticks. The products were sold nationwide, including at Target and Safeway stores in Hawaii, as well as through ByHeart’s website and Amazon. Infant botulism is rare but can be life-threatening.
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
12. Tru Fru freeze dried fruit products
The Hawaii Department of Health Food and Drug Branch alerts residents to a recall issued by Georgia Nut Company, a third-party manufacturer for Tru Fru, LLC for its Tru Fru brand freeze-dried products due to the “potential” presence of metal in the product. The recalled products were distributed nationwide, including retail stores and supermarkets such as Target, Whole Foods and Walmart in Hawaii, according to the news release. The recalled products are Tru Fru Freeze Dried Strawberries in Dark & White Chocolate and Tru Fru Freeze Dried Strawberries & Crème in various package sizes and lot codes. Metals in the food can cause “traumatic injury” including cutting open and puncturing tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach and intestine, as well as damaging teeth and gums.
(Photos courtesy of DOH)
13. Cheese products from The Ambriola Company
The Ambriola Company has issued a recall for its cheese products sold nationwide under the Locatelli, Boar’s Head and Member’s Mark brand names, according to the Hawaii Department of Health Food and Drug Branch. The recall is due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Nationwide distribution includes retailers such as Sam’s Club and Foodland in Hawaii and FDB is working with them to take affected cheese products off the shelves.
(Photo courtesy of DOH)
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.
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