Kraft-Heinz announced on Friday that it was recalling about 36,000 cases of individually-wrapped Kraft Singles cheese packs due to a potential choking hazard caused by the packaging. The cases were shipped to stores throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Grand Cayman. The recall applies to 3 and 4 lb. Kraft Singles American and White American cheese slices with a Best When Used By Dates of December, 29th 2015 through January 4th, 2016. The cases and the individual packs also contain a manufacturing code of S54 or S55 on the label. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, a thin strip of the plastic packaging on certain individual slices may remain adhered to the cheese, and if not removed, could cause a choking hazard. The voluntary recall only affects these particular cases and sizes.Kraft-Heinz warned consumers not to consume these particular shipments, and instead bring them back to the store for an exchange or a full refund.
Spokesperson Jody Moore wrote in the press release, “We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed.” According to the company, there have been 10 consumer complaints regarding the matter, including three consumers who reported choking on the on the remaining packaging. The company issued a similar notice in March, when it recalled 242,000 cases, or 6.5 million boxes of its macaroni and cheese dinners after eight customers reported finding small pieces of metal in the boxes. The recalled boxes contain Best When Used By Dates of September 18th, 2015 through October 11th, 2015, with a code of “C2” stamped on the box. The cases were shipped through the U.S., the Caribbean, and South America. No injuries were reported at the time of the March recall.
Kraft Foods Group completed a merger with HJ Heinz, owned by 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway on July 2nd of this year, becoming the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world. In 2012, Kraft Foods Inc. split into two companies; with the aforementioned company focusing on the North American grocery market, and Mondelez International, which is a global distributor of Kraft snacks and confectionary products. Both Kraft-Heinz and Mondelez International, however, operate as separate entities. In addition to its famous Singles and macaroni and cheese dinners, Kraft Foods is known for its Oscar Meyer brand of meats and Velveeta cheese. Heinz controls over 50 percent of the U.S. ketchup market and its Ore-Ida brand controls nearly half of the domestic frozen potato market. Heinz claims to have 150 number-one or number-two brand market leaders worldwide.
Sources:
CNN – Holly Yan
Detroit Free Press – Kayla R Fortney
Nasdaq – RTT News
Yahoo Food – Rachel Tepper
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