Quaker Oats Expands Recall to Nearly 50 Products Over Salmonella Contamination

Quaker Oats has expanded its recall of granola bars, cereals, and snacks to include nearly 50 products that may be contaminated with salmonella. The expanded recall comes just weeks after the company’s initial recall announcement in late December.

Expanded Recall Includes Popular Cereals and Snacks

The expanded recall now includes many beloved Quaker products such as Life and Cap’n Crunch cereals, as well as Chewy and Rice Krispies granola bars.

A full list of the newly recalled products is as follows:

This expanded recall adds to the number of Quaker products already pulled from shelves last month, which included Chewy Chocolate Chip granola bars, Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch cereal, and Life cereal.

Salmonella Contamination Discovered at Plant

The potential salmonella contamination was first discovered after an ingredient supplier notified Quaker Oats that there may be salmonella in some of their products.

According to Forbes, Quaker’s facility in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania was identified as the likely source of the contamination. An investigation found salmonella present in the plant environment. No illnesses have been reported yet in connection with these products.

Symptoms of a salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that can start 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days but can have more serious effects for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Recall Expansion Comes After Health Canada Warning

Last week, Health Canada issued its own warning about Quaker products made with the recalled granola, asking retailers to remove impacted items from stores. The agency said the additional warnings were issued “out of an abundance of caution.”

This likely prompted Quaker’s U.S. division to reassess the scope of its initial recall. Expanding the recall allows the company to pull more potentially affected items from circulation.

So far, the expanded recall impacts products sold only in the U.S. But Canadian health officials said they continue to work with the Quaker brand to identify any other foods that could pose a contamination risk.

What Led to the Contamination in Quaker’s Facility?

It remains unclear how salmonella made its way into Quaker’s production plant. Contamination could have occurred through various ingredients used in the recalled products.

Ingredients like oats, sugar, chocolate chips, and peanut butter may carry salmonella if stored improperly or exposed to unsanitary conditions during processing.

The pathogen can also spread between different areas of a production facility if proper safety protocols aren’t followed. This cross-contamination can affect multiple product lines even if only one ingredient lot contains salmonella.

Quaker says it is continuing to investigate the cause of the contamination alongside third-party experts. The company has not provided details on any changes to its safety procedures, but says it is taking steps to eliminate the pathogen from its facility.

What Happens Next?

With nearly 50 products now recalled over salmonella risks, Quaker faces further scrutiny of its food safety standards in the coming months.

The company will likely undertake a mass disinfection of its Mechanicsburg plant per FDA guidance. All surfaces and equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to eradicate any lingering traces of pathogens.

Before resuming production, Quaker will also need to pinpoint the source of contamination and prove that its corrections and sanitation processes are effective. This could involve extensive ingredient testing and environmental monitoring for contamination.

In the meantime, consumers are advised to dispose of any recalled Quaker products in their homes. The company says customers can contact Quaker Customer Service for reimbursement details. Retailers nationwide are also pulling recalled items from store shelves to prevent further distribution.

The full impact of this recall remains to be seen. But food safety experts say the expansion highlights the extensive distribution and supply chains involved with major food manufacturers. Contamination issues can easily spiral, emphasizing the need for heightened diligence when lives are on the line.

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