Cookies Recalled By Stew Leonard's After Death Made On LI: Officials

NEW YORK — Stew Leonard's has issued a recall of a cookie that may be connected to the death of a New York resident who ate them at a gathering in Connecticut, according to state and store officials — and that cookie was made on Long Island.

In a statement, Stew Leonard's said the store, in partnership with the Food and Drug Administration, was recalling "vanilla Florentine cookies" sold only at the chain's stores in Danbury and Newington from Nov. 6 to Dec. 31, 2023.

According to Stew Leonard's, the cookies contain peanuts, an ingredient that was not disclosed to Stew Leonard's by the manufacturer. The cookies were produced by Cookies United in Islip, N.Y., but sold under the Stew Leonard's brand name.

Cookies United, in a statement obtained by Patch, said they notified Stew Leonard's in July, 2023 that the product now contains peanut and all products shipped to them were labeled according.

"It has come to the attention of Cookies United that a customer of Stew Leonard’s has tragically died as a result of eating cookies containing peanuts. Our hearts and condolences are first with the family of this Stew Leonard’s customer. Stew Leonard’s claimed in an earlier press release that, 'The cookies contain peanuts, which was an ingredient not disclosed to Stew Leonard’s by the manufacturer.' [bold is ours] Unfortunately, considering the tragedy of these circumstances,we need to point out that Stew Leonard’s was notified by Cookies United in July of 2023 that this product now contains peanuts and all products shipped to them have been labeled accordingly. This product is sold under the Stew Leonard’s brand and repackaged at their facilities. The incorrect label was created by, and applied to, their product by Stew Leonard’s. In the 24 hours since Cookies United learned of this tragedy we have been cooperating with the New York State Department of Agriculture and have been informed we are in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations relating to this product. Our deepest sympathies to the family of this Stew Leonard’s customer."

The release was signed by Walker G. Flanary III, general counsel for Cookies United.

"Customers with nut allergies should bring back the product to customer service for a full refund," Stew Leonard's said in a statement.

According to the state Department of Consumer Protection, a New York resident in their 20s was reported to have eaten the mislabeled product at a social gathering in Connecticut.

The affected cookies are seasonal and have a "best by" date of Jan. 5, 2024, according to the DCP. Consumers with a nut allergy should immediately dispose of the cookies or return them to the store and seek medical attention if necessary, according to the DCP.

"This is a heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened," DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli said in a news release. "DCP food investigators are working hard with the Department of Public Health, local health departments, officials in New York State and New Jersey, the Food and Drug Administration and Stew Leonard's to determine how this error happened and prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future. Our condolences go out to the family affected by this incident."

DCP worked with Stew Leonard's to remove all baked items produced by Cookies United from all the grocery chain's Connecticut locations out of an abundance of caution, according to the DCP.

Stew Leonard's currently operates stores in Norwalk, Danbury and Newington, as well as a number of stores in New York and New Jersey.

"This has never happened at Stew Leonard's before," CEO Stew Leonard Jr. said in a statement sent to Patch. "We have very strict food safety practices and one of them is having all proper ingredients listed on our labels. Unfortunately, we are buying these cookies from a company who never told us they changed the ingredients. We sold them in good faith and one customer was affected. We were devastated to learn this news and our family is sending our deepest condolences."

DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani said she was devastated to learn of this incident and would work with partners to ensure they can protect people with food allergies.

"Correct labeling so that people who have food allergies can appropriately protect themselves is of utmost importance...I cannot stress enough the importance of food allergy awareness so that an avoidable tragedy like this doesn't happen again," Juthani said in a news release. "We will continue to work with all our partners — including restaurants and retailers — to provide education on the dangers of food allergens so that best practices are being following for the safety of the residents of Connecticut."