Kraft Sliced Cheese Recall Expanded Over Choking Hazards

A recent recall for Kraft Singles cheese slices is being expanded to ten times its original size, following at least two new complaints of consumers choking on a clear plastic coating that may stick to the slices after being unwrapped. 

The Kraft sliced cheese recall expansion was announced by the manufacturer on September 3, including an additional 335,000 cases.

The cheese slices may have a thin piece of plastic remain adhered to the cheese after the wrapper has been removed, posing a choking and suffocation hazard to consumers. To date, Kraft has received at least 12 consumer complaints of the plastic sticking to the cheese products, including five reports of consumers choking.

The initial Kraft Singles recall was first announced by the FDA on August 3, including only about 36,000 cases. The company decided to expand the recall after it received the two new choking reports, in order to more accurately cover all potentially impacted products. The expansion brings the recall total to approximately 371,000 cases of American and White American Kraft Singles.

The original recall included three and four-pound cases of Kraft American and White American Singles with manufacturing codes S54 and S55 with “Best When Used By Dates” ranging from December 29, 2015 through January 4, 2016. The expanded recall now includes three and four-pound cases of Kraft Singles American and White American cheese product with “Best When Used by Dates” ranging from December 12, 2015 to March 2, 2016 and manufacturing codes S54 and S55. The “Best By” dates and manufacturing code are both stamped on the outer box and the individual packages.

The products were manufactured by Kraft Heinz Company of Northfield, Illinois where they were distributed for sale in in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and 10 other countries and territories including Anguilla, the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, South Korea, St. Lucia, and the British Virgin Islands.

Kraft is warning customers in possession of the recalled cheese products not to consume them, recommends returning the remaining portions to the store of purchase for an exchange or a full refund. Consumers within the U.S. and Puerto Rico may also contact Kraft Heinz Consumer Relations for a full refund by calling 1-800-432-3101 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.