On June 22, 2016, Bolthouse Farms issued a voluntary recall for a large amount of their Protein PLUS and Mocha Cappuccino shakes after it became clear that they may be spoiled. Products that are spoiled may appear to be lumpy, may taste bad, or may have a foul odor. About 3.8 million bottles have been affected by the recall. These bottles were distributed to retail locations across the United States. The recall was issued after Bolthouse Farms received multiple complaints from consumers. Cases of illness were reported, but no details have been provided. The investigation into the cause of the spoilage is ongoing.
The Bakersfield, California company recalled 6 varieties of Protein PLUS shakes, including chocolate, vanilla bean, coffee, coconut, strawberry, and banana honey almond butter. The shakes affected by the recall have best by dates between 6/20/16 and 9/18/16, and come in sizes between 11 and 32 ounces. There were also two sizes of Mocha Cappuccino Protein shakes recalled, including a 15.2 ounce bottle with a best by date of 9/2/16, and a 32 ounce bottle with a best by date of either 8/2/16 or 8/3/16. A full list of recalled products, their UPC codes, and their best by dates can be found here. The best by dates can be found on the cap and label, while the UPC is located on the barcode.
This is not the first time that Bolthouse Farms has been linked to food safety issues. In 2006, the company was connected to an outbreak of Botulism that sickened at least 6 people in Canada and the United States. Two people sickened in Canada became extremely ill and needed to be hospitalized as a result of their illness. The outbreak led to a recall of carrot juice from stores across North America.
The FDA has explicitly warned that products affected by the recall should not be consumed. Bolthouse Farms has advised consumers to “return [the shakes] to the store where purchased for a full refund.” Consuming these recalled shakes may cause a case of food poisoning. Several reports of illness have been tied to this recall, but no details have emerged as of yet. Food poisoning, regardless of the bacteria responsible, will usually cause some sort of gastrointestinal illness. Generally, gastrointestinal illnesses exhibit symptoms including fever, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. These symptoms will appear within a few days after infection.
If you or a loved one begins to present symptoms common of foodborne illnesses after consuming recalled Bolthouse Farms protein shakes, contact a medical professional. If you are diagnosed with a foodborne illness, it may be possible to seek compensation because of your illness. At Merman Law Firm, our highly experienced attorneys will work to ensure that you recover any losses due to medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. If you think that you may have a case, fill out our free case evaluation form.
Sources:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1296/3209/1600/FSN-infosheet-10-11-06.jpg
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm508221.htm
