Cookies recalled for metal fragments; sugar connection unclear

Cookies sold at ShopRite stores are being recalled because they may contain small metal fragments.

A recall alert — dated Aug. 5 but not emailed until today by the Food and Drug Administration — does not indicate whether the cookie recall is related to an ongoing recall by a sugar supplier that has spurred a number of secondary recalls.

“Country Home has initiated a voluntary recall of Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Salted Caramel Cookies sold at ShopRite stores in its Fresh Bake department,” according to the company’s recall notice.

“These cookies were sold in 12- and 24-count containers and may also be part of the 12- and 24-count variety packages of cookies. The cookies were sold between July 19 and Aug. 4.”

Cookies included in the recall can be identified by the following label information:

• Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Salted Caramel Cookies with the UPC number 28978500000 or UPC number 28977600000; and
• Gourmet Variety Pack Cookies with the UPC number 38978600000 or UPC number 28977200000.

No injuries related to the recalled cookies had been reported as of Aug. 5, according to the recall notice.

Details of the cookie recall are similar to those reported in July recall notices from ConAgra for almost 1,000 tons of P.F. Chang’s frozen entrées and from Weis Markets for 30 bakery products. Both of those recalls cited metal fragments in sugar supplied by an unnamed company and used in the production of the frozen foods and fresh baked goods.

ShopRite did not immediately respond Wednesday to questions about the cookie recall and whether it is related to the recalled sugar.

“We are advising customers who purchased 12- and 24-count Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Salted Caramel Cookies and Gourmet Variety Pack Cookies at ShopRite between July 19 and Aug. 4 to return them for an immediate refund or replacement,” said ShopRite spokeswoman Karen Meleta.

ShopRite is one of the retail grocery banners owned by Wakefern Food Corp. of Keasbey, NJ. There are more than 260 ShopRite supermarkets in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, serving more than six million customers each week, according to the recall notice.

The company has called and emailed ShopRite Price Plus Club customers whose loyalty card records show they bought the cookies to alert them about the recall.

“ShopRite urges its customers to keep their Price Plus Club information updated, so they can be contacted in case of such events. Customers wishing to update their information can call 1-800-SHOPRITE or visit ShopRite.com,” according to the recall notice.

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from Food Safety News » Food Recalls http://ift.tt/2aZN4Gy