Coffee creamer sold in 11 states recalled over sterility fears
A vanilla creamer has been recalled over fears that it may be contaminated and unsafe to drink.
Pennsylvania-based Sunny Sky Products has voluntarily recalled 1,876 cases of its Sunny Sky Non-Dairy French Vanilla Creamer because ‘product sterility was potentially compromised,’ according to a notice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
It was not clear how the sterility was compromised, but this may mean that the packaging has been broken, allowing harmful bacteria or fungi to seep into the product.
Health officials did not say whether any pathogens were detected in the creamer, but warned that the affected products may no longer be safe to consume.
The FDA has designated the recall Class II, which means ‘use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.’
No illnesses have been reported.
Products were distributed to 11 states: Georgia, Texas, Utah, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, North Carolina, California, Kentucky, Arkansas and Nevada.
Each case of creamer was reported to contain three 96oz bags, adding up to 5,628 bags total.
More than 5,000 bags of coffee creamer have been recalled due to sterility concerns
The FDA has not issued recommended actions for customers, but in previous recalls, the agency has urged not to consume affected products and to throw them out immediately or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
Sterility concerns are usually caused by manufacturing defects, such as a faulty seal or a crack in the packaging, health officials say.
This does not mean the product is automatically contaminated, but the manufacturer can no longer guarantee that it is safe to consume.
When food is not properly sealed, bacteria can colonize it.
Bacteria that can colonize products include Clostridium botulinum, which produces the dangerous neurotoxins behind botulism.
In botulism, those neurotoxins attack the nervous system and lead to gradual paralysis that travels down the body. Patients may experience drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing.
Foodborne botulism is rare in the US, resulting in only 20 to 25 cases and three deaths per year.
It can be treated with the antitoxin Heptavalent Botulism Antitoxin (HBAT). The medication cannot reverse paralysis or damage to the cranial nerves, but it can stop botulism from worsening.
Other bacteria that can enter compromised foods include E. coli and salmonella, which cause symptoms including bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever.
Anyone can be infected with E. coli or salmonella, but children under five years old, adults over 65 years old and people who have weakened immune systems are at higher risk of infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that foodborne E. coli infections cause around 357,000 illnesses, 3,700 hospitalizations and between 30 and 100 deaths each year.
Salmonella results in 1.3 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths annually in the US.
In most cases, both infections resolve in a few days without treatment. In cases where symptoms persist, doctors may prescribe antibiotics or put a patient on an intravenous drip to replace lost fluids.
