Quaker Oats issued a voluntary recall on Friday for dozens of its granola products due to potential salmonella contamination. The recall impacts snack bars, cereals, and trail mix products under the Quaker, Quaker Rice Crisps, Cap’n Crunch, Life, and Eat Smart brands sold across the United States. Over 60 products are included in the recall after salmonella was detected in the company’s manufacturing facility.
Recall Details
The recall impacts products with best by dates through December 2023. A full list of recalled products is available on the FDA website here. Retailers and distributors nationwide have been advised to remove recalled products from shelves and inventory.
The potential contamination was detected after routine testing identified the presence of salmonella at the company’s facility in North Carolina. No illnesses have been reported to date related to the recalled products.
Quaker stated that salmonella infection most often causes symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated product. While most individuals recover without treatment, salmonella infection can pose serious and fatal risks to young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Retailer Reactions
Major retailers including Walmart, Target, Costco, and Amazon have all initiated recalls per Quaker Foods’ announcement. Consumers who purchased the recalled products at any of these retailers can return items for a full refund.
Walmart stated Friday evening that it was working swiftly to remove recalled items from all store locations and inventory. Walmart carries over a dozen of the impacted Quaker products.
Target similarly advised Friday night that it would pull recalled items from shelves and issue refunds to any customers who had purchased the granolas. At least 8 Quaker products at Target are impacted.
Costco confirmed Saturday morning that several Kirkland private label trail mixes were included in the recall after receiving ingredients from Quaker. An alert was sent to all Costco members who purchased recalled items directing them to return products for refunds.
And Amazon sent emails Saturday to all customers who ordered recalled Quaker products through Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market, also directing consumers to pursue refunds if desired.
Health Agency Response
The Centers for Disease Control released a statement Saturday supporting Quaker’s voluntary recall and emphasizing that no illnesses have yet been reported. However, the CDC noted that salmonellosis infections often go unreported or undiagnosed.
CDC urges individuals who consumed any of the recalled products and develop salmonella symptoms to seek medical care and retain any unused portions of the product for testing. State health agencies have likewise advised residents to check any Quaker snacks in their homes against recall lists and discard items as appropriate.
Potential Impacts
While no illnesses have yet emerged, if salmonella cases ultimately traced back to this recall did develop, Quaker could face legal and financial consequences.
The snack food company could see significant lost revenue from destruction of recalled inventory, impacts to consumer trust in its brands, and potential civil litigation if consumers did become sick from products. Though Quaker maintains rigorous food safety standards, it will now likely invest in additional preventative controls and monitoring to mitigate recurrence of contamination issues.
This marks the company’s first major recall over food safety issues since 2016 when listeria contamination resulted in recalls of Aunt Jemima pancake/waffle products. That previous recall resulted in several product liability lawsuits alleging negligence and liability claims seeking injury damages on behalf of consumers sickened.
What Consumers Should Do
Per the advice of Quaker, retailers, and health agencies, consumers should adhere to the following guidance regarding the recall:
- Check any Quaker products in your home against the recalled products list at www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts
- Discard any items included in the recall or return unopened products to the retailer for a refund
- Clean any storage containers or surfaces that may have touched recalled products
- Monitor household members for salmonella symptoms if products were consumed, seeking medical care if symptoms develop
Consumers with additional questions can contact Quaker via the number below. This recall remains under investigation by Quaker and food safety authorities as they seek to pinpoint the root cause and prevent future contaminations.
Quaker Customer Service
Tel: +1 (866) 718-4667
Hours: 24 hours per day
The swift and widespread reaction aims to mitigate risks and prevent potential illnesses arising from this contamination detection. However, foodborne salmonella cases have been on the rise both nationally and globally – meaning companies, agencies, and consumers alike must continue working diligently to identify risks and keep food safe.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
