Nationwide Recall of Ritz Crackers Due to Unintentional Peanut Allergen Presence in Packaging
In a recent development, Mondelez Global, the parent company of popular brands like BelVita, Chips Ahoy, Oreo, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, and others, has announced a recall of some cartons of Ritz cracker sandwiches. The recall was initiated due to a labeling error that could potentially pose a life-threatening risk to individuals with peanut allergies or sensitivities.
The issue stems from a supplier error that caused defects in the film packaging rolls used to package the individually wrapped peanut butter products. As a result, the individual packs within the recalled cartons may be mislabeled as "Cheese variety" when they are supposed to be labeled "Peanut Butter variety." However, it is important to note that no reports of injury or illness from the labeling mistake have been received by Mondelez so far.
The outer cartons that the now-recalled Ritz cracker sandwiches come in are correctly labeled and provide an allergen advisory statement about the presence of peanuts. This means that while the individual packs may be mislabeled, the overall packaging correctly indicates the presence of peanuts.
The recall affects eight-pack, 20-pack, and 40-pack cartons of Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches and 20-pack cartons of Ritz cracker sandwich variety packs. The best-by dates for the recalled eight-count cartons of Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches are from Nov. 1 to 9 of this year. For the 20-count and 40-count, they are from Nov. 1 to 9 of this year and Jan. 2 to 22 of next year. For the 20-count variety packs, the best-by dates are Nov. 2 to 9 of this year. The UPCs of the recalled cartons were included in the FDA notice.
Consumers with peanut allergies are advised to check their pantries, avoid consuming the recalled products if found, and discard them to prevent any risk. It is also important to note that the recall does not impact any other types of Ritz or Mondelez products, excluding certain best-by dates of 20-pack Ritz cracker sandwich packs.
Mondelez International's market capitalization hovered around $86.3 billion as of Wednesday. The company has stated that it is taking corrective action to prevent the labeling error from happening again.
It is worth mentioning that Kraft Heinz has also recently recalled more than 367,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon over Listeria concerns, separate from the Ritz recall. However, these two recalls are unrelated.
A separate recall, involving tires, air conditioners, and power banks, has been announced by COSTCO, unrelated to the Ritz recall.
[1] Mondelez Global Recall Notice:
- Mondelez Global, despite being the parent company of multiple well-known brands, finds itself embroiled in a recall of certain Ritz cracker sandwiches due to a labeling error that might be detrimental to individuals with peanut allergies or sensitivities.
- In the realm of health and wellness, it's crucial for consumers to be aware of food-and-drink items with potential allergens, such as peanuts, especially in the case of the recalled Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches, which have been mislabeled, potentially posing a risk.
- As a forward-thinking organization, Mondelez International continues to invest in science and technology, aiming to rectify issues like the labeling error, and ultimately, to ensure the safety and quality of their portfolio, encompassing products ranging from BelVita to Triscuit.
