Slim Fast Recall: Bacterial Contamination in Canned Drinks May Cause Illness

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A massive Slim-Fast recall has been announced for all 10 million ready-to-drink cans of the diet product that are currently on the market in the United States and Canada. The Slim Fast drinks may be contaminated with bacteria that could cause symptoms of food poisoning.

The recall for Slim Fast canned drinks was announced last week by Unilever United States, Inc., the manufacturer, after testing revealed contamination by the Bacillus cereus microorganism. The bacteria can cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Although the manufacturer claims that no illnesses or deaths have been officially reported in connection with the recall, MSNBC.com reports that a number of people have become sick from Slim Fast drinks, with illness surfacing about 6 to 15 hours after the shake was consumed. The report indicates that the individuals recovered within about 24 hours.

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The Slim-Fast ready-to-drink cans are flavored meal replacement drinks used for weight loss. The recall includes all Slim-Fast cans of all flavors, sold both in four-can cartons and individually. It affects cans currently in stores and includes all cans which may be in homes that have not yet been consumed. There are an estimated 10 million of the 11-ounce, steel cans on the market.

The recall does not include Slim-Fast powdered shakes, meal bars or snack bars.

Bacillus cereus is responsible for about two percent of all foodborne illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Illness comes within 24 hours after exposure and can result in a diarrheal illness. Serious illness and permanent injury are very rare.

Unilever has ceased production of Slim-Fast ready-to-drink cans until the source of the contamination can be identified and corrected, company officials say.


140 Comments


Linda
I have been drinking slim fast for a several years and recently, I grab a can in the morning and take to work for breakfast. I have had several symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pains. However, I could not afford to see the doctor, for I do not have health insurance and it take month to get an appointment to see a doctor at the free clinic. But, I kept thinking maybe I had food poising a few times and I would nurse myself back to health I thought and continued drinking my slim fast. On Christmas Day my niece came from Cleveland to Detroit for dinner and looked into my cooler and saw slim fast and immediately said Auntie you have to stop drinking that slim fast and throw it out, there have been a recall. I had not seen the recall and was still drinking as of December 25th. If I had not cooked so much food and needed the space in the refrigerator perhaps I would still be drinking it. I never would have put it into the cooler, but I need the space. Should I be seeking medical assistance I am not a young woman I am fifty four. When I was very ill and thought I had food poisoning now I believe it was the slim fast.

Diane
I have been drinking slimfast on and off for years! Now again for the past six months. The case I bought in the beginning of December has now been thrown out. I was so sick! I thought I had a stomach flu. It is no fun having diarrhea! Is there a form to fill out for reimbursement? Are your people sleeping on the job or did they forget to wash their hands before they started work?

leslie
been sick for like 4 weeks now with this. i thought it was IBS at first until the 4th when they came out with the recall. was still sick on the 21st when i went in for a regular doctor visit, he had me do a stool sample for the lab. i should hear back on monday. as long as i stay with the BRAT diet, i’m fine, but if i stray from it, it’s back to the diareha and cramping… not fun!

andy
I’ve been on Slim Fast since August of 2009. My stomach problems began December 13th with the vomiting, diarrhea for a complete week. I could not eat anything from Dec 13th once this started until Dec 23d. I didn’t know about the recall until we received a letter from BJ’s (where we bought it) notifying us that the cans of slim fast we bought have been recalled. I missed a whole week of work. I have the documentation. Are they going to repay me for lost wages?!!

Isaac's Mom
First of all, the absolute stupidity of some of you commenting on this page just blows my mind. You drink a Slim Fast shake, get sick, and then spend days trying to figure it out…and some of you KEPT DRINKING THE SHAKES!!! My God! Secondly, if you are going to post something for the whole world to read, use a spell checker and learn proper grammar. I have trouble feeling sorry for many of you. It’s no surprise you got sick since most of you seem too stupid to piece together a coherent thought. Thirdly, those of you threatening to sue won’t get far. You’ll have a hard time proving it was the Slim Fast that made you sick. Which is why I’m not suing Unilever over the Slim Fast I drank which made me so sick that I miscarried my twins.

Carole
I too drank a slimfast the night before thanksgiving, It tasted different , it had a heavy metal taste. I did not hear of the recall right away as I don’t go out alot, Thanksgiving morn I called my son and told him to come get the food I had cooked the night before as i woke throwing up & sick as a dog. I had no clue what was wrong, but if it was the flu I didn’t want to pass it around to the famly, so i spent the holiday by myself.I almost called an ambulance as i felt that bad, but stuck it out instead. I actualy found out about two week’s later when i went to the drug store & saw a sign posted on the wall. My stomach look’s like I am three to four month’s pregnant & it won’t go down. I seriouly believe it’s from that as it has NEVER been like that before. I am NOT pregnant i am 54.

HERSHANA
I HAVE SPENT HUNDRED OF DOLLARS ON SLIM FAST DRINK AND I FELT VERY VERY ILL AND IT HAVENT HELP ME AT ALL I STIILL HAVE ABOUT 18 CASE LEFT AND IM MAD CAUSE EVERY TIME I HAVE ONE IT MAKE ME VERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SICK TO MY STOMACH.

brianna
i purchased slim fast and didnt realize it was making me feel sick i though maybe i had gotten the flu..wow it was good to no wasnt the flu but then found out it was a recall ..whats up with that.

Gena
I did not hear of the recall untill I had consumed about 12 cans of slim fast. About 12 days ago I woke up during the night with chills and fever and a very severe sinus infection and diarrhea. I went to the doctor the next day and was given a Z pack (antibiotic). Took it for 8 days with no relief. Went back to the doctor and she said I must be developing a resistance to the drug and put me on another antibiotic. Have been taking this for three days still with no relief and the diarrhea continues. Guess it will be back to the doctor this week to see if I test positive for the bacillus cereus.

Constance
I recently heard that my cousin was released from the hospital. She had purchased 20 cans of Slim Fast. After drinking 6 cans over a two day period she became violently ill and had to call ambulance to take her to the hospital. She had acute stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and was admitted to the hospital on April 29,2009 and she was not released until May 15, 2009. At home, she drank another can or two, had the same symptoms and had to be readmitted to the hospital the next day, May 16,2009 and she was released on June 17th,2009. On Nov. 3, 2009, she was admitted to the hospital again until Nov. 15, 2009 for an unresolved illness. Which we now believe was started by your Slim Fast product. She give me 5 cans for myself and I became ill also.

GENEVA
I AM AN AVID SLIM FAST CONSUMER. RECENTLY I PURCHASED MY NORMAL AMOUNT OF CANS AND ONCE I DRANK THE CONTENTS, LATER I ACQUIRED ABDOMINAL CRAMPS, FELT LIKE THROWING UP AND LATER DIARRHEA THAT LASTED FOR NEARLY 2 DAYS. IT WAS AWFUL! THE PAIN WAS TERRIBLE. I STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF CANS LEFT.

esmealda
i have been a faithfull cust for the past 18monhs i have been dinking about 3 cans per day 11oz. for the past 3 weeks i have been geting really bad stomach cramps,nausea, i had no clue this product was so un-safe and how caeless they can be i am having a very upset stomach…. i just found out today my sister is also a consumer i did not know this produc could turn out to be so unsafe……..

Bev
I have had diahrrea for two months. I went to the doctor and my stool sample indicated white cells which is a bacterial infection. The antibotic worked for two days, but I am back in the throws of severe diahrrea. Today I received an email from Slim Fast saying they had recalled the liquid drink for bacterial contamination. So…….its back to the doctor for me because the antibotic didn’t finish the job. I didn’t connect the Slim Fast to my problem, but it started when I first started using it. What on earth took them so long to notify me. This has been interferring with my life.

Bill
Severe stomach cramps and fire hose diarrhea 6 times in 2 months. Once on the way to visit my dying mother, causing me to pull over 3 times and miss work 3 of the times. Yes, Slim Fast won’t be on my grocery list again. They are recalling all cans manufactured since September. Nice of them to let me know in the middle of December. As I’m completely draining my body of fluids and drinking another Slim Fast to replenish the fluids. This is classic theory of diminishing returns. Thanks Slim Fast for offering to replace the ones I didn’t drink. Oh….by the way, the results of the Bacillus cereus caused me to shed a few pounds. Can see it now….Slim Fast announces customers lost an average of 10 lbs. Buy some today. Hope I don’t sound bitter.

Michelle M.
I agree, I thought I had the flu, I use Slim Fast products frequently have so since 1996. No telling how long this has been going on, I have experienced some diarrhea but I assumed it was part of the formula to cleanse. OMG!

Heidi
OMG…..I am so shocked. I just found this out through a friend and I have been consuming slim fast for the last 8 months and in the last few months I have noticed after drinking it I would feel nasty and just down right sick with diarrea and vomitting. I have TONS of this stuff as I have a retail store. What do you do from here? Just throw it out and be out of money??

Ana
I was drinking slim fast shakes since August 2009. I’ve been to the doctor’s more then 10 since the end of October. They didn’t know what was wrong with me. They gave me different kind of medications and antibiotics and none of them worked until they recalled slimfast. Now I’ve been treated for the right antibiotics since they now know what type of bacteria I had. Not only that I had stomach cramps, but also blisters.

Cindy
Saturday after Thanksgiving I started drinking Slim Fast, that evening I started feeling nausea and felt very weak with stomach cramps and diarrhea. I also was experincing pains in my colon. I had no apeitite and was also vomitting. I got all congested from being sick and started taking Musinex along with Tylonel and vitiam C. I continued to drink slim fast once a day so I could at least take my medicine. I thought it would coat my stomach and also give me the vitiams I needed. I went to the dr. on Monday for blood in my stool and I was also had a rash on my bottom , the dr treated me for a fungial infection. Well the medicine never seemed to work and I ended up back at the dr on Thursday and was diognosed with broncitis and was giving ZPak but still continued to take my medicine with slim fast because I still wasn’t wanting to eat. Saturday I saw on the news that there was a recall on Slim Fast and also Sams Club called my parents to let them know. I drank it for 7 days not knowing that it was what was making me sick the whole time. I missed a whole weeks worth of work. It did cause me to lose weight but I don’t think that’s how it supose to work.

Lori
First I want to say I am a healthy female, 47 years old and do not drink, smoke, and always healthy! I started drinking slimfast in May because I wanted to look good onmy vacation to Florida in June. I started having digest problems, nauseated, gas, couldn’t breath,etc. it kept getting worse, was at the hospitals 5 times and tons of bills for tests, labs, doctors, pharmacy, doctors were stumped,finally I had surgery for my gallbladder, hietal hernia, (more bills) and could only consume liquids for 4 weeks they said, so I stocked up on Slim Fast, and Ensure, and drank them 3-4 times a day, I felt so nauseated all the time, in the bathroom constantly, down to 96 lbs, though just had to recover from surgery, then I heard about the recall, I called Slimfast and they said they were going to call me back, never did yet as of a week ago! I just want to know what cures it!!!I have 50,000 in medical bills/hosp/drugs and still feel nauseated.I am a single mother of 5 children and don’t have the money to keep going to the doctors! I just want to feel better again!!!

Shirley
I have purchased my share of slimfast for several years. Over the holiday I purchased (2) cases of strawberry slimfast. That next day I was having vomiting,diarrhea, and bleeding from the rectnal. I went to the doctor he prescribed some cream to relieve the pain. My body is still not back to normal. I have not contact slimfast yet to discuss my health problems until I talk to a lawyer. Whay should i do because I feel that they should be responsible for these health issues that I am having. They need to be monitoring the product before they put it on the shelves.

Karen
I drank a slim fast optima on thanksgiving day in the am while I was preparing the meal for 25 people, I told my husband I didn’t like the way it tasted, I assumed like everything else I like, they changed it, That same evening I became ill, nausea, stomach cramps,weak, with many trips to the bathroom. I became concerned the next day and called my extended family to see if any of them became ill after eating at my house, thinking that I prepared something bad. They were all ok with no complaints of illness. I thought I had the flu. two days later I drank another, and became ill again, I still feel ill and will be seeing my md on Monday now that I know about the drink

Marissa
I usually drink any where between 2-3 Slim Fast a day. about a few weeks ago around Thanksgiving i started getting cramps an being really nauseous and having a really bad upset stomach.

John
Mine is a very similar story to everyone else. I received a notice from Sam’s Club (where I bought the Low Carb Slim-Fast from) about the problem yesterday. I had not connected the cramping & diarrhea I’ve had all this week with the Slim-Fast until then. I wanted to loose some weight, but not that way. I took the rest of the case back to Sam’s Club where they promptly refunded my money, with their “apology”. I’ve thought about suing so that Unilever could get a chance to fell some of my pain from this week, but was not sure how to proceed.

Jose
I have been drinking Slim fast shakes for the past 2 months and have been experiencing severe diahera. I thought I had some sort of virus. I am very upset that they would allow this contaminated product into the nations food chain. What happened to our safeguards we were supposed to have in place to protect us FDA ? If there is a class action suit COUNT ME IN !!!

Terri
After drinking 1 slimfast shake last Friday, I had an unexplained bout of diahrea in the afternoon. The next morning I had another shake for breakfast, before I heard the news of the recall. In the afternoon I had another bout of diahrea and bad gas pains in my stomach. I haven’t had another shake since last Saturday, but I am still having diahrea and the gas pain in my stomach. From what I have read this should have gone away within 24 hours. I can’t find out how to get rid of this and it’s getting very old. Any ideas?

Donna
I’ve been using slim fast shakes for breakfast 6 out of 7 days a week for the last 3-4 years. Within the last 3 weeks or so I have been extrememly nausious and had stomach cramping with diarrhea several times. I don’t know if the shakes have anything to do with my issues, but I wanted to add my experience.

Cynthia
I was put on slim fast not for losing weight but for the nutrition it would provide me as I am severely anemic. Since drinking Slim Fast in the 11 ounce cans (3 cans a day) I have suffered from two infections and have to be placed on antibiotics. Prior to this I have not had any infections in years.

Maria
I am so upset, I just found out today through my mother inlaw that there was a recall on slimfast. I have been on slimfast for two months now but stoped two weeks ago because I felt really sick. At first I thought I was pregnant because I get nauses and diareah my firs trimester, but after I got my period I knew it had to be something else. I never suspected slimfast. I will be throwing away the rest of my cans.

Clifford
I have been drinking the product to support my weight lost program. I have been usung the bathroom more frequently than other days but never suspected that it was from an unknow bacteria. I just assumed that since I was not injesting much solids my bowel was emliminating stagnat matter from the bowels. I also feel weak in my knees but I was assuming that that was from my physical stress. I have been faithfully comsuming a can or two for the last four months.

josephine
I have consumed this drink for approximately a month.I have had all of the symthoms listed above. This symthoms have occured during the last week.

Jodi
Slim Fast also comes in 6-pack format; I have 2 of these. I have thrown these out as well, as they indicated disposal of all cans. I believe that Unilever needs to have an online form for people to fill out. This way, the consumer has documentation of the claim. Also, Unilever does not indicate exactly what the consumer should expect re: refund. For instance, I paid over $7 for a 6-pack. Will I receive a true refund, or merely what Unilever determines is their “recall price”? My feeling is that in the absence of these elements, the recall/refund will often not be given, and when provided, the amount will be insufficient to cover the buyer’s cost. It will absolutely drive me away from this brand.

zach
My wife and I consumed this product and she became violently ill and was taken to the hospital by ambulance and we reported it dec. 4 so for this article to say that there is no reported cases is a complete lie.

Cassandra
I have been drinking slim fast optium for 4 weeks and stopped about a 2 weeks ago when I started experiencing extreme stomach pain, diahera and naseau. I thought maybe I had the flu. I have been in and out of the bathroom for weeks. Feeling sick all the time. I found out today that slim fast recalled there drinks. I am now going to the doctor. They think I have an infection in my intestines from the drink. I called slim fast and they want to pay for my medical bills and medicines if this is from there drink. I think they should pay for the boxes of amodium and 5 tons of toliet paper that I have used. Perhaps they can give back my last 3 weeks of my life back. I believed in a product that has changed my quality of life the past month and god knows how much longer to get this bateria out of my system.

sassiree
i drink one of my slimfast on friday november 27, 2009 and i felted nausea for the whole day and every since i been drinking them i have not been feeling well.

rick
well that explaines why i have had the shits for a week. I guess i will dump the rest out

Trena
Is there a date as to what needs to be returned and/or not consumed?? If bought 6 months ago, are these cans possibly contaminated? What is the time line for the contamination?

Ron
I certainly hope that this gets resolved quickly becuase i drank my last can at lunch today.

Lillie
I brought a 12 pack, is that also included in the recall? Also, are cans brought several months ago affected? Thanks. Lillie

Angela
Bought my supply for the month couple days ago 4 of the 6 pack strawberry 24 cans, drank one, told my mom later that day I didn’t feel well, and have had severe diarrheal and nausea for 3 days! sure they can refund the the money, but what bout me crapping my pants twice cause i couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time! I don’t unstand how a company that has been round so long, could let this happen!

cdb
I drank a can of slimfast at work last Monday morning 11/30/09, by the time I got home that evening i had some cramping in my stomach and was feeling kind of under the weather. I woke up at 4am Tuesday morning with diarrhea which lasted thru Wed morning. Never linked it to the can of slimfast i drank, was trying to figure out if i had picked up a 24 hour bug over the Thanksgiving holiday. heard on radio this am that there was a recall on slimfast (That was the culprit)

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