Nesquik Chocolate Powder Recalled Over Possible Salmonella Contamination
Nestle USA has voluntarily recalled more than 200,000 containers of Nesquick chocolate milk powder mix because of a possible salmonella risk.
The food producer said Thursday that it was calling back canisters of Nesquick, a chocolate powder that is mixed with milk to make chocolate milk, that were made in early October and sold nationwide.
The Glendale-based company says that the Nesquik involved was in 10.9-, 21.8- and 40.7-ounce canisters that bear an expiration date of best before October 2012, according to a statement. The company also said that some of the canisters have advertisements for the new movie "Wreck-It-Ralph" and the motto "Be a Hero".
The company said that different sized containers and other flavors of the popular brand were not affected.
Nestle says that it is issuing the recall after Omaya Inc., which supplies Nestle with calcium carbonate for the drink mix, issued a recall for certain lots of the ingredient over possible Salmonella contamination.
Omaya on Tuesday had recalled three batches of 50-pound, 2,000-pound and 2,500-pound bags of calcium carbonate, an ingredient that is used as acidity regulator, anti-caking agent and source of calcium, that was produced at a plant in Superior, Arizona.
So far there have not been any reported illnesses associated with the product.
Nestle added that customers who believe they may have purchased the affected Nesquick products should not use it and can return it for a refund or contact Nestle Consumer Services at 1(800) 628-7679.
Salmonella-related recalls are not uncommon in the food industry. Just last month, more than two dozen products including, chips, protein bars, and ice cream have been recalled over fears of the bacteria.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control receives around 42,000 reports of Salmonella illness each year. The bacteria can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever in adults and cause even more serious complications in those with children, elderly and pregnant with weakened immune systems, and in severe cases can even lead to death.
