OSHAWA -- They were recalled almost two years ago, but tainted chocolate bars have resurfaced in the loot bags of Oshawa trick-or-treaters.
Oshawa resident Rachel Greystock was surprised to find large-sized Hershey's chocolate bars as she sorted through her kid's Halloween candy Friday night.
"We found it odd that it wasn't the small treat size and my husband and I both wanted to check it out first, knowing that there was a recall," said the mother of three.
When Mrs. Greystock saw the recalled product numbers on TV Monday morning, she was shocked.
"I couldn't believe someone would do it and basically ruin Halloween."
Some 40,000 recalled chocolate bars were stolen from the Turtle Island recycling depot in late 2006 and the bars started turning up on the shelves of small, independent convenience stores in 2007.
Mrs. Greystock's children were each given a Hershey's Creamy Milk Chocolate bar with the product number 6425. The recalled chocolates range from 6417 to 6455 and include more than just Hershey's. Oh Henry! bars, Reese peanut butter cups, Hershey's dark chocolate almond bars, chocolate chips, dark and milk chocolate bars, Glosettes, Eat-More bars and Cherry Blossoms were all recalled in November 2006 after salmonella was found in the soy lecithin, an emulsifier, used to make the candy.
Mrs. Greystock's seven-year-old son Tyler said he was excited at first about getting the big chocolate bar.
"When I got home I wanted to eat them, but I didn't because I was afraid they did have poison."
The Greystock family trick-or-treated around their neighbourhood. They live close to Waverly Public School. Mrs. Greystock alerted school officials about the tainted chocolate first thing Monday and Waverly principal David Brownson is taking every precaution.
"We'll send home a memo and I'll put it on a hot colour so that the parents can't miss it in their bags," said Mr. Brownson. "It is a serious thing and we don't want any of our children to get ill."
Mrs. Greystock also contacted the Regional health department and was told someone will be coming to pick up the chocolate.
So far the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has no confirmed cases of illness from people eating these products.
Eating salmonella-contaminated food can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and other flu-like symptoms. For young children and elderly people, the bacteria can sometimes be deadly.
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