Kraft recalls Velveeta Microwavable Snack Cups

There are Velveeta lovers in this world, and there are mac ‘n cheese lovers.  Then there are those really special culinary gourmets who combine the two for a tasty treat.  Kraft Foods Global, the makers of Velveeta, is hands-down an institution with the folks who opt for the tasty combo.

Sadly, Kraft announced a recall on September 30^th for four styles of the Shells & Cheese Single Serve Microwavable Cups. About 137,000 products have been shipped for distribution onto retail shelves in the United States. Kraft is pulling specific batches off the shelves due to the possible presence of thin wire pieces inside. The recall stands in line behind Pepperidge Farms, whose Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks, who issues a similar recall on September 23, 2011 when some small, thin pieces of wire were found in their products.  Unlike the Pepperidge Farms recall, Kraft has received no customer complaints or reports of contamination, but are recalling the products to protect the consumers.

Name of Product	Size	Best When Used By Dates (look on bottom of package)	UPC
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Microwaveable Cups	2.39 oz. cup	16 MAY 2012	2100002322
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Four Pack Microwaveable Cups	4 x 2.39 oz. cup	24 APR 2012 to 16 MAY 2012	2100002339
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with 2% Milk Microwaveable Cups	2.19 oz cup	25 MAR 2012 to 30 MAR 2012	2100002323
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with 2% Milk Four Pack Microwaveable Cups	4 x 2.19 oz cup	29 MAR 2012 to 12 APR 2012	2100002946
Velveeta Rotini & Cheese Broccoli Microwaveable Cups	2.44 oz cup	29 APR 2012 to 14 MAY 2012	2100002318

Products affected are ONLY those with the “best when used by” dates indicated above.  Consumers who may have already purchased the product should not use them, and immediately return them to the place of purchase for exchange or refund.

Any other questions can be addressed to Kraft Foods at (800) 308-1841.

Possible Contamination of Wire Flecks Prompts Pepperidge Farm Recall

It’s bad enough that so many of us have those nightmare memories of schooldays spent with wire-threaded metal bands slowly and painfully correcting our awkward adolescent smile. Now the folks at Pepperidge Farm, Inc. may have found a way to create an even more painful scenario.  

Photo:  FDA

Some consumers have complained about slight scrapes inside and around their mouth from eating Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks. Pepperidge Farm issued the voluntary recall of a specific quantity of 10.2-ounce boxes of the Sesame Sticks product. This action was taken as a preventative measure, just in case any of the products happen to experience the presence of small, thin pieces of wire!

The 13,000 cases of products included in this recall were made at the company’s Willard manufacturing facility in Ohio.  Each individual package is marked with a bright yellow banner with the words “20% More!” printed toward the top of the front panel of the box.  Look for the codes below on the top package flap:

     W07*1781 Sell by 11/20/2011          W07*1891 Sell by 11/27/2011
     W07*1921 Sell by 12/4/2011            W07*2041 Sell by 12/11/2011
     W07*2061 Sell by 12/13/2011          W07*2221 Sell by 1/1/2012

These are the ONLY codes involved in this recall. Product was sold in the USA only.

According to the FDA recall information, “consumers who have purchased this product should not eat it. They should check their pantry shelves for boxes with "Sell By" dates of 11/20/2011 through 1/1/2012 marked on the top package flaps and return them to the store of purchase for an exchange or full refund.”

Pepperidge Farm customer service can also be contacted directly at (866) 535-3774.