When Sally Manny was told her son was having an allergic reaction at school, she assumed something had been shared in the classroom.
The Sydney mum checks everything she buys to make sure there are no nuts for six-year-old Hugo, who is allergic.
She rushed Hugo to hospital when he started “screaming in pain like someone was stabbing him” on the car ride home. He was given adrenaline and treated for anaphylaxis.
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But when it happened again just weeks later, Manny realised there was one thing in common — Hugo had eaten his favourite chocolate bar — Mr Beast Feastables Milk Chocolate.
“It was absolutely terrifying, particularly when he was screaming in the car in pain, and he actually said, ‘Mummy, am I going to die?’ and I said, ‘No, you’re not. We’re going to hospital’,” she told 7NEWS.com.au.
Hugo’s initial reaction the second time was less severe, but the fallout has been worse, Manny said.
“He’s been really lethargic, he’s had multiple days off school, his skin has flared up with eczema around his mouth,” she said.
Manny is among dozens of parents across Australia who reported their children with nut allergies had reactions to the Feastables Milk Chocolate or Milk Chocolate Crunch bars.
“My son has a peanut allergy, and vomiting after having Mr Beast chocolate, and came out in hives,” one mother shared online.
“My son is allergic to nuts and also had an allergic reaction to the plain dairy milk one. He’s never had this before with anything that says ‘may contain’,” another said.
The products include an allergen notice stating the chocolate “may contain” peanuts and tree nuts.
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries recalled the Mr Beast Bar Milk Chocolate in late November after two allergic reactions were reported to NZ Food Safety.
Manny said allergy specialists advise the risk of contamination is low for products labelled “may contain”, adding Hugo has not had a reaction to any product labelled as such in the last three years.
“May contain” statements are voluntary precautionary labels used by manufacturers to indicate the product may be contaminated with nuts through processing and packaging.
“The chances of having a severe allergic reaction through contamination during processing are extremely unlikely,” the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne said.
“However, people with severe or anaphylactic reactions should use these products with caution.
“The only safe alternative is extremely limiting, as it would be to not include any commercial food products in your child’s diet.”
While Manny is grateful Hugo was able to be quickly treated for his reactions, she said the incidents were “traumatising” for both of them.
“To think he could eat a chocolate bar and be hospitalised, especially when you’re basing it on what your allergy specialist has said and what you’ve been doing for years,” she said.
She is concerned for families who may have purchased the chocolates as a Christmas treat or have them in their cupboard.
“What if it’s a child who is way more allergic, or they’re not near a hospital or don’t have an EpiPen or antihistamine — that’s a real issue that could happen,” Manny said.
Product voluntarily pulled
A Feastables spokesperson confirmed the business had voluntarily removed the products from supermarkets in Australia, saying consumer safety was the company’s “very top priority”.
“Several weeks ago, we voluntarily withdrew Feastables Milk Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Crunch from shelves in Australia,” they said.
“While products do feature an allergen statement, including peanut, we proactively decided to remove current supply from shelves for the safety and well-being of the affected community.
“Feastables is proactively partnering with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.”
In Australia and New Zealand the company has updated its website and product pages with a prominent allergen notice, stating the products “may contain peanuts, among other allergens as labelled, including Milk Chocolate and Milk Crunch flavours”.
“Out of caution, individuals with a peanut allergy should not consume Feastables chocolate,” it continues.
“Parents and caregivers should take particular care to prevent children with allergies from eating the product to safeguard against this risk.”
7NEWS.com.au understands the company’s labelling has been confirmed to be correct by government regulators.