TORONTO – Acting out of an abundance of caution, SunOpta has decided to further expand its voluntary recall of certain sunflower kernel products due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
This further expanded recall includes certain sunflower kernel products originating from SunOpta’s facility in Crookston, Minn. between May 31, 2015 and January 31, 2016. No illnesses related to the consumption of these products have been have been confirmed.
Recalled retail sunflower kernel items were sold in clear printed plastic packages and are marked with Best By Dates located on the front or back of the packages. Recalled snack bars were sold in boxes of 12 units. Listed below are details regarding the recalled items:
| Product Description | Size | UPC | Lot # | Best By Date |
|---|
| Sunrich Naturals Sunflower Kernels-Roasted and Salted | 1 oz. | 810304032122 | 34215231-34215233
34215236-34215240
34215295-34215296
34215299-34215303
34215306
34215355-34215356
34215362-34215365
34216004-34216007
34216011-34216015
37215324
37215327-37215329
37215334-37215338
37216020-37216022
37216025-37216027 | 19AUG16-21AUG16
24AUG16-28AUG16
22OCT16-23OCT16
26OCT16-30OCT16
02NOV16
13DEC16-14DEC16
28DEC16-31DEC16
04JAN17-07JAN17
11JAN17-15JAN17
20NOV16
23NOV16-25NOV16
30NOV16-04DEC16
20JAN17-22JAN17
25JAN17-27JAN17 |
| Sunrich Naturals Sunflower Kernels-Chili Lime | 1 oz. | 810304012148 | 34215155-34215156
34215159-34215160
34215166-34215167 | 04JUN16-05JUN16
08JUN16-09JUN16
15JUN16-16JUN16 |
| 1.2 oz | 810304032146 | 34215168 | 17JUN16 |
| Sunrich Naturals Sunflower Kernels-Blazin’ Hot | 1.2 oz. | 810304032139 | 34215159-34215161
34215170
34215173-34215177
34215180-34215181 | 08JUN16-10JUN16
19JUN16
22JUN16-26JUN16
29JUN16-30JUN16 |
| Spitz Salted Sunflower Kernels (Only Available In Canada) | 3.53 oz.
100 g | 069579210005 | 07-09-16A2
09-10-16C
11-09-16C
11-09-16B
01-06-17C
01-07-17B | 07-09-16
09-10-16
11-09-16
11-09-16
01-06-17
01-07-17 |
| Spitz Dill Pickle Sunflower Kernels (Only Available In Canada) | 3.53 oz.
100 g | 069579210012 | 07-09-16C2
09-10-16B
09-11-16A
11-10-16C
11-10-16B
01-07-17A | 07-09-16
09-10-16
09-11-16
11-10-16
11-10-16
01-07-17 |
| Kar’s Sunflower Kernel Roasted and Salted | 2 oz. | 077034009897 | 08/31/15-09/03/15
09/09/15-09/11/15
09/14/15-09/15/15 | 08/31/16-09/03/16
09/09/16-09/11/16
09/14/16-09/15/16 |
| Planters Sunflower Kernels | 3 oz. | 029000012714 | 6291B3, 6291C3, 6292A3, 6292B3, 6292C3, 6293A2, 6293A3, 6293C3, 6293C2, 6293B2, 6294A2, 6294A3, 6294C3, 6294C2, 6305A3, 6305C3, 6306B3, 6306A3, 6306C3, 6307B3, 6307A3, 6307C3, 6308B3, 6319C3, 6319B3, 6319A3, 6320C3, 6320B3, 6320A3, 6321C3, 6321B3, 6321A3, 6326B3, 6326A3, 6326C3, 6327B3, 6327A3, 6327C3, 6328B3, 6328A3, 6328C3, 6340C3, 6340B3, 6340A3, 6341C3, 6341B3, 6341A3, 6342C3, 6342B3, 6361C3, 6361B3, 6361A3, 6362C3, 6362B3, 6362A3, 6363C3, 6363B3 | 10/17/16-12/28/16 |
| 7023A3, 7023B3, 7023C3, 7024A3, 7024B3, 7024C3, 7025A3, 7025B3, 7030A3, 7030B3, 7030C3, 7031A3, 7031B3, 7031C3, 7032A3, 7032C3, 7037A3, 7037B3, 7037C3, 7038A3, 7038B3, 7038C3, 7039A3, 7039B3, 7039C3 | 01/23/17-02/08/17 |
| Navitas Naturals Superfood+ snack bars: Cacao Cranberry, Goji Acai, Hemp Peanut, Maca Maple | | Cacao Cranberry - 811961020262 | 0476 | MAR2017 |
| | Goji Acai - 811961020286 | 0476 | MAR2017 |
| | Hemp Peanut - 811961020309 | 0466 | MAR2017 |
| | Maca Maple - 811961020248 | 0466 | MAR2017 |
Recalled products were distributed to distribution centers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Canada and may be redistributed to other states.
Consumers are urged not to consume these products. Consumers who purchased these products may take them back to the store where they purchased them for a refund or simply discard them. Consumers seeking information may email
contactus@sunopta.com or call 1-888-886-4428 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
Retailers and wholesale customers should check their inventories and shelves to confirm that none of the recalled products are present or available for purchase by consumers or in warehouse inventories. Please contact SunOpta at
contactus@sunopta.com to arrange for disposal or return of the product.
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“SunOpta is fully committed to ensuring the safety of consumers and integrity of the products we make for our customers,” said Rik Jacobs, SunOpta President and CEO. “In an abundance of caution, we are expanding the recall period to include sunflower kernel products originating from our Crookston facility that have any potential to be contaminated.
“We have put into place corrective and preventative actions to ensure the safety, quality and integrity of the consumer goods and ingredients we manufacture,” Jacobs added. “We have resumed production of roasted sunflower kernel products at our facility in Crookston after conducting a comprehensive review of our manufacturing processes. We have also enhanced our active testing activities prior to all customer shipments.”
About SunOpta
SunOpta Inc. is a leading global company focused on organic, non-genetically modified ("non-GMO") and specialty foods. SunOpta specializes in the sourcing, processing and packaging of organic and non-GMO food products, integrated from seed through packaged products; with a focus on strategic vertically integrated business models. SunOpta's organic and non-GMO food operations revolve around value-added grain, seed, fruit and vegetable based product offerings, supported by a global sourcing and supply infrastructure.
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