Kellogg Company today announced it has taken the precautionary measure of putting a hold on Austin® and Keebler® branded Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Crackers, Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers.

FDA and other regulatory agencies have indicated that Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) is the focus of their investigation concerning a recent Salmonella outbreak thought to be caused by tainted peanut butter. PCA is one of several peanut paste suppliers that the company uses in its Austin® and Keebler® branded peanut butter sandwich crackers.

Kellogg Company’s investigation has not indicated any concerns, nor has the Company received any consumer illness complaints about these products.

Nonetheless, Kellogg Company is taking precautionary measures including putting a hold on any inventory in its control, removing product from retail store shelves, and encouraging customers and consumers to hold and not eat these products until regulatory officials complete their investigation of PCA and Kellogg provides further information as to the resolution of this issue.

“Consumer health and safety is our top priority,” said David Mackay, president and CEO, Kellogg Company. “We are taking these voluntary actions out of an abundance of caution.”

While no additional consumer action is necessary at this time, consumers with questions or who would like a product refund can call the Kellogg Consumer Response Center at 888-314-2060.

Source

Tags: Kellogg recall, peanutbutter recall, Austin, Keebler®, Salmonella outbreak

A Wisconsin shipper is recalling nearly 50,000 pounds of sliced apples and has temporarily stopped production after listeria was discovered in the company’s packing shed through in-house testing.

Richland Center-based Richland Hills stopped shipping and began recalling 49,450 pounds of sliced-apple packs from retail and foodservice customers in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and Louisiana the week of Jan. 5, said Tom Henderson, the company’s quality assurance manager.

No illnesses have been reported as a result of the contamination, Henderson said Jan. 14.

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail and elderly people and people with weakened immune systems.

Production will be halted while the Food and Drug Administration and the company investigate, Henderson said.

Recalled product includes 4-ounce packs of Richland Hills-brand Apple Dippers, 6-ounce Richland Hills Organic Sliced Apples, 6-ounce Crunch Pak Organic Sliced Apples and 2-ounce Richland Hills Apple Nibblers with use-by dates ranging from Jan. 26-30.

Richland Hills is a co-packer for Crunch Pak, Cashmere, Wash. Tony Freytag, Crunch Pak’s marketing director, said the company received notice of the recall Jan. 11. The recall only affected one of Crunch Pak’s customers, Freytag said. Crunch Pak provides Crunch Pak-labeled film to Richland Hills, which then packs and ships its own apples under the Crunch Pak brand.

Richland Hills’ Apple Dippers brand is not related to the Apple Dippers served at McDonald’s restaurants. Richland Hills is not a McDonald’s supplier, said Danya Proud, senior manager of U.S. media relations for Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald‘s.

Other recalled product includes a variety of sizes of Pearson Foods fruit trays that contain apples and are dated Jan. 19 or before and a variety of sizes of Richland Hills sliced, diced, quartered and half-apple foodservice packs dated Jan. 26-30.

Sourcewww.foodhaccp.com/1news/011509h.html

Tags: Apple recall, food recalls, Mcdonalds apples, Apple supplier