In the past four weeks, Canadian business SunOpta has recalled sunflower kernel products produced between February 1, 2016 and April 21, 2016 over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
This prompted businesses supplied by SunOpta to recall dozens of products that contained the potentially contaminated seeds.
And the number of recalls has soared in the past 24 hours after SunOpta announced it was extending the recall back a further eight months to cover certain sunflower kernel products produced between May 31, 2015 and January 31, 2016.
SunOpta also said it had reviewed its manufacturing processes and, through working with “external experts,” had identified and eliminated the root causes of the contamination. The company added it carried adequate insurance to help mitigate the direct and indirect costs of events such as a recall.
Companies and brands that have recalled products since SunOpta's latest announcement on June 1 include:
Treehouse Foods
Treehouse has recalled dozens of products sold under brands including Best Choice, Eating Right, Food Club, Foodhold, Giant Eagle, Meijer, Our Family, Hy-Vee, Roundy’s, Spartan, Amport Foods, Southern Grove and Nature’s Harvest. For full list, see bottom of this story.
Clif Bar & Company
Clif Bar & Company is initiating a voluntary recall of:
- Clif Bar Nuts & Seeds energy bars (Best before: 08JUN16 through 21JAN17)
- Clif Bar Sierra Trail Mix energy bars (Best before: 05JUN16 through 24MAR17)
- Clif Mojo Mountain Mix trail mix bars (Best before: 16JUN16 through 02FEB17)
All three products are sold nationally in the US.
The Quaker Oats Company
PepsiCo’s The Quaker Oats Company has extended last month’s recall of Quinoa Bars and is now recalling all the following Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars, which were distributed nationally:
- 6.1 ounce boxes of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars Chocolate Nut Medley (UPC code 30000 32241 and Best Before 11/15/16)
- 6.1 ounce boxes of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars Yogurt, Fruit & Nut (UPC code 30000 32243 and Best Before 11/15/16)
Quaker Canada
Quaker Canada has extended last month’s recall of a small quantity of its Quinoa Bars that had been distributed in Ontario to a grocery retailer, drug stores and pharmacies across the province.
The business is now recalling all lots and date codes of:
- Five-count boxes of Harvest Quinoa Yogurt Fruit & Nut bars (UPC: 1 00 55577 11020 1)
- Five-count boxes of Harvest Quinoa Chocolate Nut Medley bars (UPC: 1 00 55577 11021 8)
The company is also voluntarily recalling two Spitz-brand flavored sunflower kernels products that are manufactured by SunOpta.
- 100 gram bags of Spitz Salted Sunflower Kernels (UPC: 69579210005)
- 100 gram bags of Spitz Dill Pickle Sunflower Kernels (UPC: 69579210012)
The recalled Spitz kernels products are only distributed in Canada, and no other Spitz products sold in the United States or Canada are produced by SunOpta or included in this recall, said Quaker Canada.
Nature Valley
General Mills is recalling four flavors of Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars and Nature Valley Simple Nut Bars that were distributed to retailers throughout the United States. Nature Valley's other products are not affected by this recall, and other General Mills products that use sunflower kernels have not been impacted, said the company.
"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."
The recalled products are:
- Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar - Honey, Peanut & Almond with Pumpkin Seeds - 5 count (UPC: 000-16000-47196)
- Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar-Peanut, Almond & Dark Chocolate - 5 count (UPC: 000-16000-45724)
- Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar - Roasted Peanut & Honey - 4 count (UPC: 000-16000-46475)
- Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar - Roasted Peanut & Honey - 16 count (UPC: 000-16000-41308)
- Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar – Almond, Cashew & Sea Salt - 4 count (UPC: 000-16000-46474)
- Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar-Almond, Cashew & Sea Salt - 25 count (UPC: 000-16000-41301)
The Nature Valley recall comes as General Mills is involved in an unrelated incident that has seen the business recalled 10 million pounds of flour products over E. coli contamination concerns.