FDA says Quaker Oats salmonella contamination went back years

Quaker salmonella recall overview: 

• Who: The FDA warned Quaker Oats about an alleged failure to resolve a salmonella contamination at its now-closed facility in Danville, Illinois. 
• Why: The agency conducted an investigation into the facility following a December 2023 recall involving Quaker Oats’ granola bars and cereals manufactured at the facility. 
• Where: The Quaker Oats recall affected consumers nationwide. 

A Quaker Oats factory in Illinois that was at the center of a salmonella-related recall earlier this year may have had salmonella present for the last four years, according to a warning letter the Food and Drug Administration sent to the company last week. 

The FDA said a sample the agency collected from the Quaker Oats facility in December tested positive for a strain of salmonella the food and beverage manufacturer acknowledged had been identified in its facility since at least 2020. 

“Your corrective action procedures did not ensure appropriate action was taken, when necessary, to reduce the likelihood that environmental contamination will recur, as (legally required), when you detected Salmonella in your facility’s environment,” the FDA wrote in its letter. 

The FDA inspected the Quaker Oats facility in response to a December 2023 recall involving the company’s granola bars and granola cereals, according to the agency. 

“Based on FDA’s inspectional findings and analytical results for the swabs collected at your facility, we have determined that the RTE granola bars and cereals manufactured in your facility are adulterated,” the agency wrote. 

Quaker Oats permanently shutters Illinois facility following review

Quaker Oats ultimately closed its Danville, Illinois facility effective early last month following a “detailed review” the company said revealed an “extended closure” was needed for, reports Milling & Baking News. 

“In order to continue the timely delivery of Quaker products trusted by consumers since 1877, we determined production would need to permanently shift to other facilities,” the company said in a statement.

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Quaker Oats in January in the wake of the recall,  over claims the company failed to disclose that consuming its product could allegedly increase the risk of contracting salmonella poisoning. 

The class action argued Quaker Oats had improperly, deceptively and misleadingly labeled its products by virtue of not disclosing the danger of contracting salmonella to consumers. 

Were you affected by the Quaker Oats salmonella recall? Let us know in the comments.

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