Sunflower Kernel Recall Impacts Vending Brands: General Mills, Clif Bar & Co., Hershey
As part of an ongoing national recall of sunflower kernels supplied by SunOpta, major vending brands have issues recalls of their products that contain sunflower kernels and could potentially be contaminated.
Sunflower Kernel Recall Impacts Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars & Nature Valley Simple Nut Bars
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – General Mills announced today a voluntary national recall of four specific flavors of Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars and Nature Valley Simple Nut Bars. The recall is being issued as part of sunflower kernel supplier SunOpta’s ongoing national recall for the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes. General Mills has not received any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this supplier issue.
The four flavors of Nature Valley bars that are part of the recall were distributed to retail establishments throughout the United States. Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the products affected by this recall, regardless of when they were purchased or what date is on the package.
Consumers who have had to discard products covered by this recall may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-866-896-4365 for a replacement.
This recall only affects four flavors of Nature Valley’s nearly 40 different products. Nature Valley’s other products are not affected by this recall.
“We know this is inconvenient for consumers who love these four flavors,” said Anton Vincent, President of General Mills Snacks Division. “We promise they will return as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Other General Mills products that use sunflower kernels have not been impacted. SunOpta announced the expansion of their sunflower kernel recall yesterday (June 1, 2016) which impacted these four specific flavors of Nature Valley bars.
This voluntary recall includes the following products currently in stores or consumers’ pantries:
- Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar - Honey, Peanut & Almond with Pumpkin Seeds - 5 count
Package UPC: 000-16000-47196 - Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar – Almond, Cashew & Sea Salt - 4 count
Package UPC: 000-16000-46474 - Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar-Almond, Cashew & Sea Salt - 25 count
Package UPC: 000-16000-41301 - Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar - Roasted Peanut & Honey - 4 count
Package UPC: 000-16000-46475 - Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar - Roasted Peanut & Honey - 16 count
Package UPC: 000-16000-41308
- Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar-Peanut, Almond & Dark Chocolate - 5 count
Package UPC: 000-16000-45724
Clif Bar & Company Issues Voluntary Recall Of Three Flavors Due To Possible Health Risk
Emeryville, CA. Clif Bar & Company is initiating a voluntary recall of CLIF BAR® Nuts & Seeds energy bars, CLIF BAR® Sierra Trail Mix energy bars, and CLIF® Mojo® Mountain Mix® trail mix bars, sold nationally, after its ingredient supplier, SunOpta, was found to have distributed sunflower kernels that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (L.mono).
Clif Bar has not received any reports of illness; however, the company is initiating the voluntary recall in an abundance of caution.
Only the flavors meeting the following criteria are affected by the recall:
- CLIF BAR® Nuts & Seeds energy bar all pack configurations with “best by” date ranges starting 08JUN16 through 21JAN17
- CLIF BAR® Sierra Trail Mix energy bar all pack configurations with “best by” date ranges starting 05JUN16 through 24MAR17
- CLIF® Mojo® Mountain Mix® trail mix bar all pack configurations with “best by” date ranges starting 16JUN16 through 02FEB17
Pictures of the products listed above will be available here.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in pregnant women, young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
People who have purchased any of the above products are urged not to consume the products and to destroy it. All retailers who received the products are being contacted. Any questions can be directed to 1-888-851-8456. Details also can be found here. Clif Bar is consulting with the FDA on this voluntary recall.
Hershey Issues Voluntary Recall Of SoFit Products
HERSHEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hershey Company has issued a voluntary recall of three products sold under the SoFit brand after a supplier who provides sunflower seeds for the products expanded its recall on June 1.
The supplier SunOpta issued a recall after discovering that it produced sunflower seeds that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Although there have been no reports of illness, Hershey is issuing the recall out of an abundance of caution.
The recalled SoFit products include a sunflower seed item as well as an almond and a pumpkin seed item produced on the same manufacturing equipment.
The recalled SoFit products are:
- SoFit Protein Plus Sunflower Seeds Sea Salt with the following date codes: 72H, 72J, 79P, 82F, 82G, 82K, 82L
- SoFit Protein Plus Pumpkin Seeds Sesame Garlic with the following date codes: 73B, 73C, 81P, 81R
- SoFit Protein Plus Almonds Jalapeno Garlic with the following date codes: 72R, 73A, 79R
No other Hershey products or products sold under the Sofit brand are affected.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in pregnant women, young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
