Just days after the popular snack item Ritz Crackers were recalled due to salmonella concerns, America’s “snack that smiles back” is being recalled as well. Pepperidge Farm announced a recall of four different varieties of Goldfish, after an ingredient supplier informed them of a whey powder recall from their whey powder manufacturer.
Whey powder an ingredient is a seasoning that is added to the goldfish crackers. The whey powder manufacturer recalled the powder due to possible salmonella risk. To date, there have no reported illnesses related to the products, and the recall was a voluntary precaution on behalf of the company.
The fish crackers involved in the recall are Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion, Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel, and Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar. All of the different packaging options offered by these products are included within the recall.
All products on the recall list should be immediately thrown out and not consumed under any circumstances. Some stores may provide a free refund for items purchased that are on a recall list, but they usually need to be unopened and this policy varies based on each store.
Salmonella is an illness usually not associated with dry, baked goods, but in this case the contamination is in the whey powder, which is included in the salt coating around the popular cracker. Whey is a dairy processing byproduct, and it is used to coat many mass processed foods. Anything that is an animal product has the ability to become contaminated with germs, which cause illnesses.
The Food and Drug Administration has explained that this recall is over the products produced and sold within The United States and that none of the recalled products have tested positive for salmonella. In The United States each year, there are around one million food born illness cases of salmonella, and most people recover without treatment.
