The saying about eating an apple a day keeping the doctor away has some truth to it, but in the case of Crunch Pak® Apple Slices, eating apples may have you heading to a doctor instead.
On November 14, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) announced a nationwide recall involving a Cashmere, WA company, Crunch Pak®. The company recalled 5,471 cases of their Crunch Pak® Apple Slices, which was shipped to regional distribution centers and also sold to retailers, due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
While no illnesses have been reported linked to this recall, the FDA urges distribution centers, retailers and consumers to check any Crunch Pak® Apple Slices they may have by noting both the UPC code as well as the “Best if Used By” date. In this instance, the UPC code alone will not properly identify the recalled products.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “a person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.” However, the CDC notes that symptoms vary by infected individuals and typically affects the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and people with compromised immune systems.
The following Crunch Pak® Apple Slices were recalled:
>> Crunch Pak® Tart Apple Slices 14-ounce bag
UPC Code: 732313141209
Best if Used By Date: 11/14/13
>> Crunch Pak® Tart Apple Slices 2-ounce bag with Low Fat Caramel Dip Multi pak of 5
UPC Code: 732313091139
Best if Used By Date: 11/14/13
>> Crunch Pak® Tart Apple Slices 2-ounce bag Multi pak of 6
UPC Code: 732313121034
Best if Used By Date: 11/14/13
>> Crunch Pak® Tart Apple Slices 3-pound bag
UPC Code: 732313481206
Best if Used By Date: 11/14/13
>> Crunch Pak® Sweet Honeycrisp Apple Slices 12-ounce bag
UPC Code: 732313120013
Best if Used By Date: 11/14/13
>> Crunch Pak® Blue Raspberry Flavorz Apple Slices 2-ounce bag Multi pak of 5 with Monsters University
UPC Code: 732313089969
Best if Used By Date: 11/18/13
“We are issuing this voluntary recall to reduce even the slightest risk to public health. There is nothing more important than the health and safety of those who enjoy our products,” said Tony Freytag of Crunch Pak. “We have always been committed to food safety, and we will continue to make food safety a core competency of our company. We realize that food safety is a constant effort, and we are using this opportunity to further evaluate our food safety systems.”
Apparently, a random sample of one pack (14 oz. package of Crunch Pak brand Tart Apple Slices) that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes prompted the entire recall.
Crunch Pak® was started in the year 2000 by Washington state apple growers. According to the company’s web site, “to improve quality we send our people out into the orchards to find the best possible product available. To insure safety, we have a certified lab on premise, where we test and hold our product 12 hours before we ship.”
A press release issued on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) web site encourages anyone with questions or concerns to call: 1-509-888-7648 or to write to [email protected]
Sources for this article include:
www.foodsafetynews.com
www.cdc.gov
www.fda.gov
www.crunchpak.com
