Health Law

Slim Fast Cans Recalled Due to Potential Bacterial Contamination

By Marler Clark

All cans of Slim Fast have been voluntarily recalled by their manufacturer, Unilver, due to potential contamination with a bacteria called Bacillus Cereus, according to this report on  MSNBC. com.  The bacteria can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in humans.   The recall reportedly affects roughly 10 million products.   

According to MSNBC:

An unknown number of people have gotten sick about six to 15 hours after consuming the diet drink, but have recovered within about 24 hours.

The contamination seems to have occurred during the manufacturing process. Unilever discovered the pathogen and notified the FDA on Wednesday.

 Unilever's U.S. arm, based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., says the products were sold nationwide. They came in cartons of four, six or 12 steel cans, 11 ounces in size, and they were also sold individually. The recall covers all Slim-Fast products in cans, regardless of flavor, best-by date, lot code or UPC number. No other Slim Fast products are affected by this recall, including powdered shakes, meal bars or snack bars

The FDA has a press release on its website.   The FDA calls the company's action a "nationwide voluntary recall of all Slim-Fast® ready-to-drink (RTD) products in cans."  FDA further states that Bacillus cereus is a "micro-organism, which may cause diarrhea and possibly nausea and/or vomiting."   

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on December 04, 2009 (boomark / email).