If you recently grabbed some M&M’s at an event or received them as a promotional gift, you might want to take a closer look at that package. The FDA just announced a recall affecting over 6,000 units of repackaged M&M’s candies across 20 states. The problem? These treats are missing important allergen warnings that could seriously affect people with food allergies. Here’s everything you need to know about which products are affected and what you should do if you have them.
What caused this M&M’s recall in the first place
Sometimes candy gets repackaged for special events or company giveaways. That’s exactly what happened here. A company called Beacon Promotions Inc. took regular M&M’s and put them into different packaging for promotional purposes. The big mistake? They didn’t include the proper allergen warnings on the new packages. This means people who are allergic to certain ingredients had no way of knowing what was actually inside those innocent-looking candy bags.
The recall was initiated on January 26, 2026, and the FDA classified it on February 4. The missing warnings involve milk, soy, and peanuts. For most people, eating these candies is completely fine. But for anyone with allergies to these ingredients, not having that information on the label is a serious problem. That’s why this recall matters even though the candy itself hasn’t been contaminated or made incorrectly.
The FDA says this is a Class II recall
You might be wondering what makes this recall official and how serious it really is. The FDA uses a classification system to let people know how dangerous a recalled product might be. In this case, they labeled it as Class II. That’s the middle level of seriousness. It means eating these products could cause temporary health problems or problems that a doctor could reverse. It also means serious health consequences are unlikely but still possible.
Think of it this way. If someone with a mild dairy sensitivity eats these M&M’s, they might feel uncomfortable for a while. But someone with a severe peanut allergy could have a much worse reaction. The FDA classified this recall to make sure people take it seriously without causing unnecessary panic. If you don’t have allergies to milk, soy, or peanuts, these candies are perfectly safe to eat. The issue is strictly about the missing label information.
Which M&M’s products are actually affected
Not all M&M’s are part of this recall. Only specific repackaged products are affected, and they come in 1.3-ounce bags. The recall includes both Peanut M&M’s and classic M&M’s that were put into promotional packaging. There are 5,788 units of one type and 541 units of another type involved. These aren’t the regular bags you’d pick up at a grocery store checkout line. They’re the kind you might get at a conference, company event, or as part of a promotional giveaway.
The recalled Peanut M&M’s have item number BB471BG and are labeled “Make Your Mark.” They have lot code M1823200 with a best-by date of April 30, 2026. The other recalled products have item number BB458BG with four different lot codes. Those codes are L450ARCLV03, L502FLHKP01, L523CMHKP01, and L537GMHKP01. The best-by dates range from December 1, 2025, all the way to September 1, 2026.
Check your candy for these company names on labels
Here’s where things get a little tricky. These repackaged M&M’s don’t all look the same. They were distributed with many different company logos and names on the packaging. If you got promotional candy recently, you’ll want to check what’s printed on your bag. Some of the labels include big names like Morgan Stanley, Adobe, Xfinity, Subaru, and Best Western. Others have names like Liberty University, University of Maryland, and Northwest Indian College Foundation.
The full list of labels is pretty long. It includes Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Companies, Merry Maids Annual 26 Conference, Dropbox DocSend, Candy Treats, and ORG Expo. There’s also Smith Pro, Jaxport Jacksonville Port Authority, Trinity Cyber, Prosperity Promotions, and many more. If your M&M’s bag has any promotional company name on it, flip it over and check for the lot codes and best-by dates mentioned earlier.
Twenty states received these recalled candies
The recall covers a wide area of the United States. If you live in one of these twenty states, there’s a chance you might have received some of these promotional M&M’s. The affected states are Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. That’s a pretty big chunk of the country from coast to coast.
Now, just because you live in one of these twenty states doesn’t mean you definitely have recalled candy. These M&M’s were distributed through specific promotional channels. If you bought a regular bag of M&M’s at your local grocery store or gas station, you’re probably fine. The recall only affects products that were repackaged by Beacon Promotions Inc. and then given out or sold through promotional events and companies.
Why missing allergen labels are such a big deal
Food allergies are more common than many people realize. Millions of Americans have allergies to things like milk, soy, and peanuts. For these folks, reading ingredient labels isn’t optional. It’s a matter of safety. When someone with a peanut allergy eats something containing peanuts without knowing it, the reaction can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening. That’s why the FDA requires specific allergen warnings on food packaging.
The tricky part with promotional candy is that people often eat it without thinking twice. Someone hands you a small bag of M&M’s at a work conference, and you pop a few in your mouth. You might not even look at the package closely. For people with allergies to milk, soy, or peanuts, this could spell trouble. Regular M&M’s contain milk, and Peanut M&M’s obviously contain peanuts. Soy is also present in these products.
What to do if you have the recalled M&M’s
So you’ve checked your candy stash and found some promotional M&M’s that match the recall details. What now? First, don’t panic. If you don’t have allergies to milk, soy, or peanuts, you can technically still eat them. The candy itself is fine. The problem is just the missing information on the label. However, if you’re unsure about allergies or plan to share the candy with others, it’s best to play it safe and not eat them.
If you do have allergies or someone in your household does, throw the candy away or set it aside. You could also contact the company that gave them to you for more information about returns. Since this is a voluntary recall, there might be options for replacement or refund depending on where you got the products. The most important thing is making sure anyone with allergies knows not to eat these particular M&M’s.
How promotional candy repackaging works
Ever wonder how companies get their logos on candy bags? There’s a whole industry built around taking popular products and repackaging them for promotional purposes. Companies order bulk candy, then specialized businesses put them into custom packages with logos and branding. It’s a popular way to give out treats at conferences, trade shows, and corporate events. The problem comes when the repackaging process doesn’t include all the required label information.
In this case, Beacon Promotions Inc. handled the repackaging. They’re the ones who put M&M’s into all those different branded bags. When they created the new packaging, they apparently didn’t include the allergen warnings that the FDA requires. The original M&M’s packaging would have this information, but once the candy goes into new bags, that information needs to be added again. This mistake led to over 6,000 units being distributed without proper labels.
Regular M&M’s from stores are not affected
Before you start emptying your pantry of all M&M’s, take a breath. This recall only affects those specific repackaged promotional products. The M&M’s you buy at the supermarket, drug store, movie theater, or vending machine are completely fine. Mars, the company that makes M&M’s, isn’t the one being recalled here. It’s the third-party repackager that made the labeling mistake. Regular retail packages have all the proper allergen information printed right on them.
So if you’re planning a movie night and want to grab a bag of M&M’s, go right ahead. Just avoid any promotional packages you might have received recently. The easy way to tell the difference is looking at the packaging. Regular M&M’s have the standard Mars branding and clearly list all ingredients and allergens. The recalled products have company logos, promotional names, or labels like “Make Your Mark” on them instead of the typical retail look.
This M&M’s recall is a good reminder to always check candy packaging, especially when it comes from promotional sources. If you have allergies or know someone who does, take a few seconds to look at labels before eating. For those without allergies, there’s no need to worry about the recalled products. They’re safe to eat. Just be thoughtful about sharing them with others who might have sensitivities. When in doubt, check those lot codes and best-by dates to see if your candy is affected.
