Clif Bar Recall 2016: List Of Products Affected By Possibly Listeria-Contaminated Sunflower Kernels

Be careful if you have a box of Clif Bars in your pantry. The company that produces the brown paper-wrapped granola and energy bars announced Thursday it was starting a voluntary recall of certain products over concerns they were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

In the United States, the affected items were:

• Clif Bar Nuts & Seeds energy bars — all pack configurations printed with best by dates between June 18, 2016 (08JUN16) and Jan. 21, 2017 (21JAN17)
• Clif Bar Sierra Trail Mix energy bars — all pack configurations printed with best by dates between June 5, 2016 (05JUN16) and March 24, 2017 (24MAR17)
• Clif Mojo Mountain Mix trail mix bars — all pack configurations printed with best by dates between June 16, 2016 (16JUN16) and Feb. 2, 2017 (02FEB17)

The company decided to recall the bars Thursday after learning one of its ingredient suppliers, Canadian organic food business SunOpta, had delivered possibly contaminated sunflower kernels, according to a news release posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website.

“We have not received any news of consumers being affected; however, we are initiating the voluntary recall in an abundance of caution to protect public health,” Clif Bar and Co. wrote in its release.

Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can cause listeriosis, an infection that most seriously affects seniors, pregnant women and newborns. Listeriosis can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 260 people die from it a year.

If you bought one of the contaminated products, throw it away. Then call customer service at 888-851-8456.

SunOpta’s listeria problems have hit a variety of businesses this week. Also on Thursday, the Quaker Oats Co. voluntarily recalled its quinoa granola bars — the second recall of its kind. It includes 6.1-ounce boxes of Quaker quinoa granola bars in the chocolate nut medley and yogurt, fruit and nut flavors with best by dates before Nov. 15. Their UPC codes would be 30000 32241 and 30000 32243, respectively.

If you have recalled Quaker granola bars, you can get a refund by returning them to the store where you bought them, according to a news release posted by the FDA. You can also call customer service at 800-856-5781.