Pepperidge Farm Recalls Goldfish Crackers Amid Salmonella Scare

Due to a possible presence of salmonella bacteria in some of its products, Campbell Soup-owned Pepperidge Farm has voluntarily decided to recall 3.3 million units of its Goldfish Crackers, reports said.

In a statement uploaded on their website, Pepperidge Farm said they were notified by one of their ingredient suppliers the whey powder used in seasoning four different kinds of crackers was recalled due to potential presence of salmonella.

“Pepperidge Farm initiated an investigation and, out of an abundance of caution, is voluntarily recalling four varieties of Goldfish crackers,” the statement said.

The four varieties of crackers that were recalled are Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion, Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar and Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel in a variety of packaging.

The company said the stock which may contain salmonella presence was distributed throughout the United States. They added no reports of salmonella infection due to the recalled product had been reported yet. No other Pepperidge Farm product in the U.S. was subjected to the recall.

"Consumers who have purchased these products should not eat them. Recalled product should be discarded or may be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund,” the company statement said.

A link for reimbursement of the product was provided for the convenience of the consumers as well.

On Saturday, Mondelez Global LLC voluntarily recalled 16 varieties of their Ritz Cracker sandwiches and Ritz Bits products in a similar situation. They had concerns the whey powder they had in their products had been tainted with salmonella presence.

No illness regarding the same had been reported to the company. Cheese, White Cheddar, and Cream Cheese-flavored cracker sandwiches, were among the products that were recalled. The expiry date for the products ranged from January to April 2019.

The salmonella outbreak began almost eight months ago. The first case was reported Nov. 20, 2017.

A few common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that can go on for up to 12 to 72 hours after bacteria exposure. The symptoms can be extremely severe sometimes, leading to hospitalization.

Generally, the illness usually lasts for about four to seven days. Most people recover even without treatment.

The infection usually spreads to the bloodstream from the intestines, thus infecting other places in the body as well. In some rare cases, it can lead to death without immediate treatment with antibiotics.

Earlier in June, Kellogg’s recalled varieties of their Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal after it was linked to salmonella illnesses and hospitalizations. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) investigations linked the popular cereal to cases of salmonella infection across U.S.

The CDC has also provided a list of quick tips for preventing salmonella. Always cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly. Avoid food and drinks that contain raw eggs or raw (unpasteurized) milk.

Do not eat undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in restaurant. Don’t be hesitant to send it back to the kitchen to be cooked further.

Always wash your hands, keep kitchen work surfaces, and utensils clean and washed with soap immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry.

Be extra careful while preparing food for infants, elderly, and people with poor immune systems. They are more vulnerable to salmonella.