Listeria alert: SunOpta sunflower fears cross Pond with Bounce UK recall
Bounce Foods UK, which is run independently of Bounce in other markets, has voluntarily pulled its Cashew Pecan and Apple & Cinnamon ball from stores over fears they may contain sunflower kernels contaminated with a bacteria that causes listeria.
The kernels were supplied to Bounce by SunOpta, the Canadian firm at the center of a string of recalls in the past five weeks that has hit businesses including Treehouse Foods, General Mills, Clif and PepsiCo (see box-out below).
The affected Bounce Foods UK products are:
- Bounce Cashew Pecan Vitality Lift Balls: all pack configurations with Best Before date ranges starting 29/08/2016 to 15/02/2017
- Bounce Apple & Cinnamon Protein Punch Balls: all pack configurations with Best Before date ranges starting 28/08/2016 to 12/03/2017
No other Bounce Foods UK products are affected by the recall.
Bounce Foods UK said the recall affected “a very small percentage of our production,” and added it would only put them back on shelf when they are confident the supplier issue has been rectified.
UPDATE: US Bounce recall
Within hours of the Bounce Foods UK recall, Bounce USA announced it was recalling Apple Cinnamon Protein Punch Energy Balls distributed nationwide through retail stores and on-line through Amazon.com between November 4, 2015 and June 6, 2016. No other Bounce products are affected:
- Bounce 1.48 oz. (42g) Apple Cinnamon Protein Punch Energy Balls (UPC 852949003723 on individual packs and 852949003730 on 12-unit boxes). Best Before Dates 04SEP16 and 12NOV16
- Bounce 42g Apple Cinnamon Protein Energy Balls (UPC 852949003723 on individual packs and 852949003730 on 12-unit boxes. Best Before Dates: 23 DEC16, 10 JAN17, 22 FEB17, 31MAR17
“We're working with them to establish this and hope to have them back in stock within a matter of weeks,” added a spokesperson.
SunOpta last week said it had reviewed its manufacturing processes and had identified and eliminated the root causes of the contamination.
Meanwhile, the list of US manufacturers and products affected by the SunOpta issue has continued to grow. Latest recalls include:
Taylors Candy
Taylors Candy, Inc. of Alsip, IL is recalling bags Stuckey’s Sunflower Kernels that were distributed to retail stores located in the states of: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, and VA. The product comes in a 5.5-ounce peg bag package with a code date of 1 1036 stamped on the front of the bag.
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle has extended its recall of sunflower seeds sold in the bulk section of four Pittsburgh area Market District stores, and extended the recall to also includes one case of sunflower seeds sold from the Meadville Giant Eagle.
The affected product was sold in the bulk foods sections of the Waterworks Mall (Fox Chapel), Shadyside, Township of Pine and South Hills Village Market District locations with a PLU of 65167. The additional recalled product was available at these locations loose in the bulk bin through June 1, 2016, and in pre-packaged containers with sell by dates through December 1, 2016. The affected loose product was also sold from the Meadville Giant Eagle.
The SunOpta sunflower kernel recall
Canadian ingredients supplier SunOpta initially recalled sunflower kernel products produced at its facility in Crookston, Minnesota, between February 1, 2016 and February 19 over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
This prompted a raft of product recalls by US business including Treehouse Foods – which pulled dozens of products from Kroger, Trader Joe’s and Giant Eagle.
Weeks later, SunOpta extended the recall period to include products produced February 20, 2016 through April 21, 2016, and extended it again on June 1 to cover the period May 31, 2015 to January 31, 2016.
That extension brought recalls from businesses including Clif, PepsiCo and General Mills, in addition to new and extended recalls from previously affected manufacturers.
Production resumed
SunOpta has now resumed production of roasted sunflower kernel products at the Crookston facility after halting it following the discovery of the potential contamination.
The company said it has reviewed its manufacturing processes and, through working with “external experts,” has identified and eliminated the root causes of the contamination.
SunOPta said it has also “enhanced” testing before shipments go out to customers, “to give our customers the confidence that all products meet or exceed rigorous quality and food safety specifications.”
The company said it carried adequate insurance to help mitigate the direct and indirect costs of events such as a recall, adding that the roasted kernel products from the affected Crookston production lines represented less than 1% of the company’s annual sales.
