Kraft Heinz Recalls Taco Bell Queso Dip Over Botulism Concerns

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notice that Kraft Heinz has voluntarily recalled its Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso Mild Cheese Dip product over botulism concerns.

According to the Taco Bell Queso Dip recall notice issued by the FDA, Kraft Heinz decided to pull the product after reports that the sauce showed signs of product separation.

Product separation can lead to the growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), commonly known as botulism.

Signs of botulism poisoning include weakness, headache, dizziness, vision problems, and speaking and swallowing problems.

These symptoms can manifest up to 10 days after eating botulism tainted food. The illness can be fatal, according to the FDA’s Taco Bell Queso Dip recall notice, and consumers who are experiencing signs of botulism poisoning should get medical help immediately.

Seven thousand cases of Taco Bell Queso Dip are affected by the voluntary recall. The specific products include 15 oz glass jars of Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso Mild Cheese Dip with best buy dates of Dec. 27, 2018 to Jan. 23, 2019.

“Consumers who purchased this product should not eat it and return it to the store where purchased for an exchange or full refund,” the Kraft Heinz company states. “Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-310-3704 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, for a full refund.”

According to the Taco Bell Queso Dip recall notice, there have been no illnesses or fatalities associated with the product; however, Kraft Heinz recommends that customers who have the product refrain from consumption and return any remaining dip to the store for a refund.

The Taco Bell Queso Dip recall comes after a slew of other food recalls this summer, including some that resulted in illness to hundreds of consumers.

CNN reports that the Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal was recalled after salmonella linked to the product sickened 100 individuals in more than 30 states.

Additionally, a whey powder in some cracker products, including Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish, Ritz Bits, and Ritz Cracker Sandwiches led to recalls over salmonella fears.

Further, pre-cut melon was yanked from the shelves of several major grocery chains, including Costco, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart after consumers reported salmonella infections.

Salmonella is another potentially deadly illness that can occur from eating contaminated food products. Signs of salmonella poisoning include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever.

Del Monte Fresh Vegetable tray products were also recalled, this time due to evidence of cyclospora. According to the Center for Disease Control, cyclospora is another stomach illness caused by ingestion of a parasite.

Signs of cyclospora infection include diarrhea, weight loss, cramping, nausea, and fatigue. According to the CDC, these signs usually occur about a week after exposure to tainted food.

Consumers affected by the Taco Bell Queso Dip recall can either return the product to the store or contact Kraft Heinz for a full refund.

“We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed,” states the company in the FDA Taco Bell Queso Dip recall notice.