Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Health Law Blogs -> Food Safety News

Health Law

: Food Safety News

Thumb Oilseed Recalls Soy Grits, Flour

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

The Michigan-based Thumb Oilseed Producers' Cooperative over the weekend recalled soybean grits and flour for possible Salmonella contamination. These were the ingredients that earlier led to the recall of granola bars by two California companies.

No illnesses have been linked to any of the soybean grits and flour-related recalls.

Thumb Oilseed distributes to wholesale customers around the country. Those customers are being asked to check their inventories and production processes and urged to take the necessary steps to protect consumer health.

Other downstream recalls, like those involving the granola bars, are possible.

Thumb Oilseed's product is labeled with Soy Beginnings or Nexsoy brands; packaged in 40# paper bags. Feed is packaged in 1500# totes. (Lot numbers include TF121608 through TF012210, TG121608 through TG010510).

The recall resulted from routine sampling programs conducted by the company and its wholesale customers.

Thumb Oilseed has suspended production and distribution of the potential affected products and is cooperating with the U.S.Food and Drug Administration and Michigan Department of Agriculture in investigating the situation.

The recall does not involve soy oil products produced by Thumb Oilseed.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 989-658-2344 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST Monday-Friday.
 
Thumb Oilseed's soy grits and flour used as granola bar ingredients led to two previous recalls over the weekend by two different California companies.

The El Segundo-based Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market recalled its Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars and Irwindale-based Lovin Oven LLC recalled its Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch, Dutch Apple, and Wildberry Chewy Granola Bars.

The recalled granola bars may be contaminated with Salmonella contained in soy products from the Thumb Oilseed Producers' Cooperative, a soybean processing facility located in Ubly, MI.  It produces a high energy soy product that  has also been recalled.
 
The Salmonella organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in children, the frail and elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.  Symptoms include fever, diarrhea including bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

The only Fresh & Easy product recalled is the Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars with a barcode of 5051379001377 for all date codes.  Fresh & Easy Market stores in California, Nevada, and Arizona sell the bars.

Fresh & Easy says its customers may return unused product, empty product containers, or receipts as proof of purchase for full refunds.  Consumers with questions may call Fresh & Easy at a 24-hour toll free number, which is 1-800-648-8622.

Lovin Oven distributes the recalled Peanut Crunch, Dutch Apple and Wildberry chewy granola bars nationally. The lots affected are:

6.1oz HV ORG PEANUT CRUNCH
07DEC09H2
15JAN10H2
23FEB10H2
28FEB10H2
28MAR10H2
29MAR10H1
13APR10H1
06SEP10H2
06NOV10H2
09FEB10H2

6.1oz HV ORG DUTCH APPLE
03JAN10H1
05FEB10H2
05FEB10H2
28MAR10H2
17AUG10H1

6.1oz HV ORG WILDBERRY
05JAN10H2
15JAN10H1
12APR10H1
06JUL10H1
08MAR10H1
 
The product description and SKU numbers (found on the bottom and used to scan at checkout):

Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars, 6.1 oz box 
# 0-35742-15483-4

Health Valley Organic Dutch Apple Chewy Granola Bars, 6.1oz box      
# 0-35742-15482-7

Health Valley Organic Wildberry Chewy Granola Bars, 6.1oz box          
# 0-35742-15481-0

Full post as published by Food Safety News on March 01, 2010 (boomark / email).