The Kraft Heinz Co. on Friday voluntarily recalled certain packages of Kraft Singles individually-wrapped cheese slices.
The Kraft Heinz Co. voluntarily recalled certain packages of Kraft Singles individually wrapped cheese slices due to the possibility that a thin strip of the individual packaging film may remain adhered to the slice after the wrapper has been removed. If the film sticks to the slice and is not removed, it could potentially cause a choking hazard.
Kraft Heinz and the FDA issue press releases about the cheese recall
The company issued a press release at 8:30 p.m. on July 31. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a press release the next day. [Read the full press release on the FDA’s website.]
The recall applies to 3-pound and 4-pound sizes of Kraft Singles American and White American pasteurized prepared cheese product with a “Best When Used By” fate of 29 Dec. 15 through 04 Jan. 16, followed by the Manufacturing Code S54 or S55.
The S54 and S55 codes refer to the two production lines on which the impacted product was made. The Best When Used By Date and Manufacturing Code are stamped on both the larger 3-pound and 4-pound boxes and the enclosed individual 1-pound packages.
10 consumer complaints; 3 reports of choking
There have been 10 consumer complaints to date about the packaging, including three reports of consumers choking.
Approximately 36,000 cases of the recalled product were shipped by Kraft Heinz to retailers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman. Kraft Heinz did not ship this product to Canada or anywhere other than the U.S., Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman.
Consumers who purchased this product should not eat it. They should return it to the store where purchased for an exchange or full refund. Consumers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico can also contact Kraft Heinz Consumer Relations for a full refund, at 1-800-432-3101, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.
Kraft recalled string cheeses in 2013
On Oct. 25, 2013, Kraft recalled some varieties of Kraft and Polly-O String Cheese and String Cheese Twists products because of possible spoilage before their "Best When Used By" code dates. Approximately 735,000 cases of the affected product were shipped to customers across the United States.