In the last two decades, U.S. food recalls have highlighted how even simple snacks like cookies can pose serious risks to public health. According to FDA and USDA recall notices, contamination, undeclared allergens, and mislabeling have repeatedly affected products sold in major grocery chains. Millions of packages were pulled from shelves between 2009 and 2025, showing how lapses in food safety protocols continue to impact consumers. Below are 11 major cookie-related recalls that made headlines.
Target’s Favorite Day Frosted Sugar Cookies Pulled for Wood Contamination (2025)
In early 2025, Target recalled its Favorite Day Frosted Sugar Cookies after reports of wood fragments found in the treats. The recall was announced in cooperation with the FDA, impacting multiple states where the product was sold. Though no injuries were confirmed at the time, the presence of foreign material posed a choking and injury hazard, leading to immediate removal from shelves nationwide.
Hannaford Recalls Nature’s Promise Peanut Butter Cookies Over Hidden Allergens (2025)
In March 2025, Nature’s Promise Peanut Butter Cookies, sold at Hannaford supermarkets, were recalled for containing undeclared milk. The FDA flagged the issue after routine label checks revealed the omission. For individuals with dairy allergies, consuming the cookies could trigger severe reactions, including anaphylaxis. The recall affected multiple New England states, where Hannaford stores are concentrated.
J.Sweets Cookies Withdrawn Over Undeclared Milk & Tree Nuts (2025)
In April 2025, J.Sweets cookies, distributed by Jalux Americas Inc., were recalled due to undeclared milk and tree nuts (almonds). Sold primarily in specialty markets across the U.S., the cookies posed a life-threatening risk to consumers with nut or dairy allergies. The FDA emphasized that the problem stemmed from inadequate allergen labeling during importation and distribution.
Target Issues Second 2025 Recall of Favorite Day Bakery Sugar Cookies (July 2025)
In July 2025, Target faced a second recall involving its Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies, once again due to wood contamination. This separate batch was traced back to manufacturing equipment issues, highlighting recurring lapses in production oversight. Customers nationwide were urged to discard or return affected cookies. While no confirmed injuries occurred, the repeated recalls raised consumer concerns about the reliability of the supply chain.
New Grains Gluten-Free Cookies Recalled for Multiple Undeclared Allergens (2025)
In May 2025, New Grains Gluten-Free Bakery Cookies were recalled nationwide after testing revealed the presence of undeclared eggs, soy, and milk. For consumers relying on gluten-free and allergen-safe products, the discovery was especially concerning. The FDA reported that cross-contact in production facilities was the likely cause. Several hospitalizations related to allergic reactions were later confirmed, making this one of the most serious cookie recalls of the year.
Rise Baking Co. Cookie Dough Recalled Over Salmonella Risk (2024)
In 2024, Rise Baking Co. voluntarily recalled its frozen cookie dough after internal testing detected potential Salmonella contamination. Sold to foodservice and institutional buyers across the country, the product posed risks of severe gastrointestinal illness. The CDC estimates Salmonella causes 1.35 million infections annually in the U.S., underscoring the recall’s significance. No confirmed outbreaks were tied to the product, but proactive withdrawal prevented possible widespread illness.
Carolyn’s Cookie Co. & Country Baking Co. Dough Recalled for Undeclared Nuts (2019)
In 2019, Carolyn’s Cookie Co. and Country Baking Co. recalled multiple varieties of cookie dough after discovering undeclared peanuts and walnuts. Distributed in schools and small retailers, the mislabeled products carried a high risk for children with allergies. The FDA noted the labeling error was due to incorrect packaging. While no fatalities were reported, several allergic reactions were documented, prompting an extensive recall across regional markets.
Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough Recall for Possible E. coli O157:H7 (2009)
One of the largest cookie recalls in history occurred in 2009, when Nestlé Toll House refrigerated cookie dough was linked to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The CDC reported at least 77 illnesses across 30 states, with 35 hospitalizations. Nestlé temporarily shut down production and worked with the FDA to reformulate safety protocols. The recall involved tens of millions of packages, marking it as a watershed moment for cookie safety oversight.
Peanut Cookie Sold as Oatmeal Raisin Results in Fatal Allergy (2023)
In 2023, a tragic mislabeling incident led to the sale of peanut cookies as oatmeal raisin in a U.S. bakery chain. The error caused a fatal allergic reaction in a customer with a known peanut allergy. The FDA classified the recall as Class I — the most serious level — due to the risk of death. The incident underscored the life-or-death importance of proper allergen labeling in baked goods.
Friendly’s Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Recall for Undeclared Soy & Wheat
Though not cookies alone, Friendly’s Cookies & Cream Ice Cream was recalled after the discovery of undeclared soy and wheat. Consumers with food allergies were put at significant risk, especially since ice cream is often marketed to children. The FDA highlighted this recall as part of a growing trend of mislabeling in products containing cookie mix-ins, showing that cookie-related risks extend beyond standalone baked goods.
Blue Bell Cookie Dough Ice Cream Mislabeling Over Nuts
Blue Bell Ice Cream faced a recall involving its Cookie Dough Ice Cream after undeclared tree nuts were discovered in certain batches. The recall followed a series of earlier Blue Bell safety controversies, including listeria contamination in 2015. While the cookie dough mix-in was at fault, the mislabeling issue again highlighted weaknesses in cross-contact allergen controls in large-scale ice cream production.
Oreo Recall 2024: Multiple Varieties Pulled Over Peanut Contamination Risk
In 2024, Oreo fans in the United Kingdom faced a major recall when manufacturer Whatever Brands pulled multiple varieties of the cookies including the classic version along with chocolate, blueberry ice cream, strawberry cream, and dark and white chocolate filled Oreos over concerns that peanuts or peanut-containing ingredients may have contaminated the products. While U.S. Oreos remained unaffected, allergy support groups quickly urged U.K. consumers to avoid the recalled cookies, since peanut allergies are among the most common lifelong food allergies in adults and are the leading cause of fatal anaphylaxis from food.
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