Salmonella Recall: World Market Pulls This Trendy Item Sold In IL

ILLINOIS — A spread that features the flavors of the viral Dubai chocolate bar has been recalled by World Market after samples of the product tested positive for Salmonella, according to authorities.

The global goods retailer announced earlier in July that it was recalling the Emek-brand Dubai spread, authorities said, which is labeled as pistachio cacao cream with kadayif. The flavor profile is similar to that of the Dubai chocolate bar, a social media mainstay in recent months.

The recalled spread is from batch No. 250401 with a best before date of April 1, 2027, according to the recall announcement, published by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

The spread was distributed between June 11 and July 9, and was sold primarily at World Market stores in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvannia, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

No illnesses had been reported in connection with the spread as of the recall announcement July 14. The Salmonella was discovered when product samples were tested by the FDA.

Emek-brand pistachio cream, a separate product, was also tied to a Salmonella outbreak earlier this year, when four people were sickened in New Jersey and Minnesota, authorities said in the spring.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the recall announcement. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often have fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare cases, Salmonella infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

Consumers who purchased the spread are urged not to eat it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or to discard it. People with questions may contact customer service at 877-967-5362 from 7 a.m. to midnight EST.