Kraft Recalling Cheese Slices Due to Possible Choking Hazard | October 2023
October 2023 | Volume 15, Issue 3
Read the accompanying article from ABC News.
A Voluntary Product Recall
According to the article, food company Kraft Heinz has issued a voluntary recall after nearly 84,000 cases of slices of processed individually wrapped American cheese were deemed to potentially contain choking hazards.
"The voluntary recall comes as a precaution after a temporary issue developed on one of our wrapping machines, making it possible that a thin strip of the individual film may remain on the slice after the wrapper has been removed," Kraft Heinz said in a recent statement. "If the film sticks to the slice and is not removed, it could be unpleasant and potentially cause a gagging or choking hazard."
No other Kraft products are affected by the company's voluntary recall.
Consumer Complaints
The issue was discovered after Kraft Heinz received several complaints from consumers saying they found "plastic stuck to a slice, including six complaints of consumers saying they choked or gagged in connection with the issue," Kraft said in their statement.
No injuries or serious health issues have been reported.
Kraft’s Response
Kraft Heinz confirmed that they have now fixed the machine that wrapped the affected slices and thoroughly inspected all other processing machines to ensure the contamination does not happen again.
Only Kraft Singles American processed cheese slices with the case/package information below are affected. No other varieties or sizes are included in the recall.
"Kraft Heinz is committed to upholding the highest safety and quality standards and apologizes for this inconvenience," Kraft said in their apology announcing the recall.
Kraft said that consumers who purchased these products should not consume them and can return them to where they were purchased for an exchange or refund.
Consumers can also contact Kraft Heinz from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST on Monday through Friday at 1-800-280-8252 to see if a product is part of the recall and receive reimbursement.
Discussion Questions
- Explain the role of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in protecting consumer safety.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose mission is the promotion of consumer protection. This includes the right to order involuntary recalls of defective products. - What is a voluntary recall? What role (if any) does the FTC play in voluntary recalls?
As established in the subject case, a voluntary recall is commissioned by the manufacturer of a defective product.
Although the FTC does not arrange for voluntary recalls, it certainly encourages manufacturers of defective products to engage in them. Such recalls mitigate the risk to both consumers and manufacturers. - Does a voluntary recall absolve a product manufacturer from liability? Why or why not?
A voluntary recall does not absolve a product manufacturer from all potential liability resulting from the introduction of a defective product into the stream of commerce. Although a voluntary recall may certainly reduce potential liability by reducing the number of defective products in “circulation,” manufacturers may still be responsible in various instances, including situations where consumers are injured from a defective product before the voluntary recall takes place.
Additionally, manufacturers may be responsible to consumers after the recall is initiated if some of the defective products are still on store shelves, consumers purchase them, and consumers did not receive adequate notice of the recall. Ultimately, liability for injuries resulting from a defective product is a jury question that focuses on whether the product manufacturer acted reasonably in responding to the threat to consumers.