Nestle, the manufacturer of cereals, coffee, ice cream and other treats, has announced that it is recalling some of its signature ready-to-bake Toll House Cookie Dough products because of the possible presence of food-grade rubber pieces. According to an NPR news report, Nestle USA says that the recall is voluntary and only affects products distributed throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
Details of the Recall
The 26 products that have been recalled include bars, tubs and chubs (packages shaped like tubes) including Holiday Chocolate Chip Tree Sprinkle, Ultimate Chocolate Chop Lovers, Pinch of Grinch Cookie Dough and Monster Munch varieties. Nestle USA has said that the recall is limited only to ready-to-bake refrigerated products with batch codes that begin with 9295.
The company said the four-digit batch code can be found after the “use or freeze by” date and following the number 5753 on the packaging. Nestle has said it has not received any reports of consumers falling ill or becoming injured as a result of this rubber contamination. The company advised those who have purchased these products on its list of potentially contaminated packages not to consume them. The company has also said it is cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on this matter.
Recent Recalls Involving Contamination
There have been a number of recalls in recent months and years involving foreign bodies such as wood, metal and rubber in processed food products. Since food processing is extremely mechanized, it is likely that parts of machinery or even surfaces such as conveyor belts could make their way into the products. This could occur when manufacturers fail to maintain their facilities and equipment properly or when they fail to train employees about being vigilant while processing food products.
Earlier this year, Perdue recalled more than 68,000 pounds of chicken nuggets that were contaminated with wood. Tyson had also issued a massive recall for its chicken nuggets that contained rubber particles, which were discovered after consumers contacted the company to report they had found pieces of soft, blue rubber inside the food. The rubber reportedly came from a part of a seal on a piece of equipment used to produce the nuggets. Part of the seal was pinched during the processing and was then introduced into the blend of nuggets.
Injuries and Liabilities
Contaminated food has the potential to cause serious injuries, illnesses or even death. If you or a loved one has been affected by recalled or contaminated food products, you may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced product defect lawyer will be able to help you better understand your legal rights and options.
