Kraft Cheese Product Recalled Due to Packaging Choking Hazard

Kraft Heinz is recalling packs of individually wrapped cheese product due to the fact the wrapping for the cheese slice does not completely come off in one motion...that is, a strip of plastic film  can be missed by the consumer when then unwrap the cheese product slice.  The wrapping deviation is only found in the 3lb and 4lb packages.  There have been 10 complaints and 3 reports of consumer choking.

One would wonder if this hazard had considered prior to this event and was it included on the facility's hazard analysis?  Certainly now it would be need to be added along with some type of control.   This is a good point of discussion for any facilities that have wrapping that adheres directly to the product, especially individually wrapped - single-serve units.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm456883.htm
The Kraft Heinz Company Voluntarily Recalls Select Varieties of Kraft Singles Products Due to Potential Choking Hazard
Only 3-Lb. and 4-Lb. Packages of Kraft Singles Included in Recall

Contact:  Consumer:  1-800-432-3101
 Media:  Jody Moore  847-646-4538, News@KraftHeinzCompany.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 31, 2015 – Northfield, Ill. – The Kraft Heinz Company is voluntarily recalling select code dates and manufacturing codes of Kraft Singles individually-wrapped slices due to the possibility that a thin strip of the individual packaging film may remain adhered to the slice after the wrapper has been removed. If the film sticks to the slice and is not removed, it could potentially cause a choking hazard.

The recall applies to 3-lb. and 4-lb. sizes of Kraft Singles American and White American pasteurized prepared cheese product with a Best When Used By Date of 29 DEC 15 through 04 JAN 16, followed by the Manufacturing Code S54 or S55.

The S54 and S55 codes refer to the two production lines on which the impacted product was made. The Best When Used By Date and Manufacturing Code are stamped on both the larger 3-lb. and 4-lb. boxes and the enclosed individual 1-lb. packages.

The following is being recalled: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm456883.htm

No other sizes, varieties or code dates are included in this recall. And no products with manufacturing codes other than "S54" and "S55" after the code date are included in this recall.

There have been 10 consumer complaints to date about the packaging, including three reports of consumers choking.

Approximately 36,000 cases of the recalled product were shipped by Kraft Heinz to retailers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman. Kraft Heinz did not ship this product to Canada or anywhere other than the U.S., Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman.

We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed. Consumers who purchased this product should not eat it. They should return it to the store where purchased for an exchange or full refund. Consumers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico can also contact Kraft Heinz Consumer Relations for a full refund, at 1-800-432-3101, Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm Eastern.