Red Vines black licorice recalled

The American Licorice Company is expanding a voluntary recall of Red Vines black licorice products.

The state Department of Health says Snaps and mixed bags containing black licorice may contain elevated levels of lead.

Consumers who have purchased the affected products are urged to return it to the place of purchase. No illnesses related to the product have been reported to date in Hawaii.

Mixed Bites and Family Mix and Snaps candies that have a black licorice core, surrounded by a candy shell, are affected by the voluntary recall.

The company says the original red flavor products and sugar-free candies are not part of the recall.

The American Licorice Company originally recalled 16 ounce bags of Black Licorice Twists with a “Best Before Date of 020413” printed on the label on Aug. 22  after the California Department of Health detected trace amounts of lead in one batch of the product.

The company’s testing found slightly elevated levels of lead in other batches of Red Vines Black Licorice Twists, Family Mix, Mixed Bites and Snaps.

Exposure to high levels of lead or chronic exposure to lead could potentially cause health problems to consumers, particularly infants, young children and pregnant women. 

The Health Department’s  Food and Drug Branch is actively notifying retailers of the recall, as well as conducting inspections to ensure the recalled products have been removed from sale. Questions regarding the product may be directed to the state Health Department’s Food and Drug Branch at 808-586-4725.