Back-to-school season is here and it’s time to start preparing the lunch boxes. But wait, have you heard about the food recalls from popular stores like Target, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s? It’s important for parents to be aware of what snacks and treats are safe to pack in our kids’ lunches, so we have rounded up five snacks, treats, and desserts that have recently been pulled from the shelves. Below, we have all the information you need to make sure your kids stay healthy and safe this school year!
Snack Safety Alert: Popular Treats Being Pulled from Major Retailers
1. Nestlé USA Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
On August 10th, Nestlé USA voluntarily recalled a limited number of their Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” bar products due to the potential of wood fragments being present. (You may have spotted this product at Target or Walmart!)
This was made public by the FDA. According to the organization, the recall is limited to two batches of the product which were produced on the 24th and 25th of April, 2023 and then distributed to various retailers across the country.
The alert states: "This recall does not involve any other Nestlé Toll House products, including other varieties of refrigerated cookie dough in 'break and bake' bars, rolls, or tubs, or edible cookie dough."
The FDA also warned customers who bought items with batch numbers 311457531K and 311557534K not to eat them and to take them back to the store they bought them from for either a replacement or a refund.
2. Doritos Nacho Cheese-Flavored Tortilla Chips
Approximately 7,000 bags of Nacho Cheese-flavored Doritos chips were recalled by maker Frito-Lay earlier this month from stores, food service locations and vending machines across Pennsylvania.
The voluntary recall was issued by Frito-Lay due to undeclared soy and wheat ingredients usually used in the Spicy Sweet Chili-flavored Doritos tortilla chips having possibly gotten into the Nacho Cheese-flavored Doritos chips packages in question.
Those with allergies or severe sensitivities to soy or wheat run the risk of illness if these chips were to be eaten, Frito-Lay explained in their notice, as the Nacho Cheese flavor does not usually contain these ingredients.
The products covered included a "limited number — less than 7,000 bags" of 14.5 oz. and 1 oz. Doritos Nacho Cheese-flavored Tortilla Chips. As noted by the brand, "The products covered by this recall were distributed at retail storesonly in Pennsylvania and other outlets, such as foodservice locations and vending machines. Consumers would have been able to purchase the chips as early as June 29, 2023."
No other Frito-Lay or Doritos products, flavors, sizes, or variety packs are part of the recall.
3. Zespri Organic Green Kiwifruit
David Oppenheimer & Company I, LLC (you might be more familiar with their brand name Zespri in the US), announced a recall of organic kiwis on August 8th due to potential listeria contamination.
The affected fruit was sold in 14 states, including Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The potentially contaminated Zespri-branded products were sold in one-pound clamshell packaging and labeled “Organic Green Kiwifruit” and shipped between June 14, 2023, and July 7, 2023.
So if you’re in any of these states, we recommend you to check if the kiwis you’ve purchased are part of the recall and take the necessary precautions to stay healthy and informed.
It's also crucial to check the barcode. Affected products have the UPC code '818849020093.' They also have fruit stickers with the following GTIN barcode: '94009552.'
4. Trader Joe's Almond Windmill Cookies
Trader Joe's customers, beware! Last month, the popular grocery store chain issued a product recall for two kinds of cookies.
The first was their "Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies," pulled from shelves due to a potential contamination of rocks.
According to the grocer, the affected products have "sell by" dates of October 19th through 21, 2023. This recall began after Trader Joe's supplier informed the company of cookie products that "may contain rocks."
Trader Joe's has assured customers that these cookies have been removed from sale in the past few weeks, and disposed of.
5. Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Chunk And Almond Cookies
The second kind of recalled cookies from Trader Joe's that might have rocks within them are the Dark Chocolate Chunk And Almond Cookies, which normally come in a plastic round case.
The potentially contaminated packages also have "sell by" dates of October 17 through 21, 2023, Trader Joe's notes.
"If you purchased or received any donations of Almond Windmill Cookies and/or Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies, please do not eat them," Trader Joe's told customers.
Good to know!
