Quaker Oats Recalls Granola Bars and Granola Cereal Over Salmonella Contamination

On December 15, 2023, Quaker Oats announced a recall of a number of granola-based bars and cereals. The basis of this action is a suspicion that at least some of these products are tainted with salmonella, a toxic bacterium that can induce severe illness and sometimes even death.

The recall extends to all 50 of the United States as well as several of America's overseas territories and possessions.

What Is Salmonella?

According to the Mayo Clinic, salmonella is a bacterium that adversely impacts the intestines. At times, salmonella bacteria pass through the digestive system and are expelled along with the fecal matter without incident.

More often, those who ingest it through food or water will suffer from diarrhea, chills, vomiting, stomach cramps and high fever. While the majority of these cases eventually recover in one to three days, others fall prey to fatal consequences, especially if the condition goes untreated.

In fact, there are over 400 deaths due to salmonella every year. Whatever the outcomes, this organism is detrimental to human health and quality of life.

How Does Salmonella Enter the Food Supply?

Both flora and fauna can be contaminated by salmonella. Infection takes place at the production (on-farm) stage, the processing stage and even after food is bought and brought home.

In most instances of salmonella infection, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is a deficiency of adequate sanitation. If livestock, for example, is infected, the handlers can spread the bacteria to other conduits if they are not washing their hands sufficiently.

The same rule goes for any who work with ingredients in processing or preparation. In short, the more people involved in bringing food from farm to table, the higher the likelihood of salmonella poisoning.

How Do Food Companies Prevent Salmonella?

Processing facilities ward off salmonella by, first, confirming the absence of the bacterium in the raw materials (meat, vegetables, grains) that are delivered.

Secondly, they maintain cleanliness and antiseptic conditions in all of their tools, implements and machinery that are used in the distillation and refinement of food products.

Consistent cleansing protocols help to ensure the eradication of any impurities, including salmonella. Keeping meat separate from other foods -- and eliminating the presence of pests and insects -- are also effective measures to prevent salmonella.

How Do Recalls Work?

Food recalls are not all that rare. Actually, hundreds of recalls happen year in and year out. Initiating a recall, then, is something of a routine matter.

Food companies, upon discovering a problem with the content of their product, reach out directly to the FDA or the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Either of these agencies will subsequently dispatch inspectors to the processing facility, where they will take samples and conduct tests.

In the vast majority of cases, recall regimes like this are voluntary, i.e. the initiative comes from the food producer or storage company. Other recalls are involuntary: they result from illnesses being traced back to a processing plant. This recall, nevertheless, originated prior to any reports of illness.

Quaker Oats and the Granola Recall

Important to know is that Quaker Oats is owned by a parent company, PepsiCo. So, Quaker Oats products may find their way into other PepsiCo distributions, such as under the label of Frito Lay, for example.

For this reason, the recalled products are itemized to include what follows:

• Chewy Classic Granola Bars

• 25% Less Sugar Granola Bars

• Chewy Dipps Granola Bars

• Big Chewy Bars

• Quaker Simply Granola

• Quaker Granola Cereals

By itemizing the recall, the company informs the public that other products are safe for consumption.

In this voluntary recall, Quaker Oats also alerts consumers that they should examine their own food inventory in case any of the affected products be present in their cupboards. In addition, the company offers recourse for getting recompense for monies spent.

How Serious Is the Recall?

The federal government recognizes three degrees of recall. The mildest is Class III, when use of the product demonstrates the smallest chance of detriment to physical health. Class II recalls embrace foods that may bring on illness, though the infirmity is temporary and easily treated.

Most troublesome are Class I recalls. These relate to contaminated food products that would commonly induce illness and may even bring on death. Due to the nature of salmonella, this recall fits the Class I designation.

However, medical treatment usually thwarts the worst effects of this bacterium.

What Should Consumers Do in Response to This Recall?

Those who have bought the products in question and may have them in their possession, on the one hand, or may have already consumed them still have options. The company offers a portal through which impacted customers can seek recourse and obtain additional information.

This site gives users the opportunity to provide a description of which product they bought and then directs them accordingly. Because this is a voluntary recall, the maker of these items has a stake in cooperating with the public.

Has Quaker Oats Experienced Previous Recalls?

PepsiCo, the parent company, recalled its Gamesa Arcoiris Marshmallow Cookies in late 2022.

As with the 2023 recall, the issue was salmonella presence. The scope of the recall was more limited to specific storage facilities in Texas and California -- and, of course, the retail outlets they served.

The underlying silver lining is that reputable companies seek to preserve their reputations by proactively recalling products when evidence points to potential contamination. At such times, Quaker Oats and similar businesses demonstrate their commitment to the public health and the welfare of their customers.