Food safety officials issue warning against popular yogurt brand sold at supermarkets: 'Could present a risk to consumers'
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the voluntary nationwide recall of YoCrunch yogurt products after consumers discovered dangerous plastic shards mixed in amongst the included toppings.
The FDA warned consumers not to eat the recalled products.
"Danone U.S. is voluntarily recalling YoCrunch products sold at retail stores nationwide due to the potential presence of plastic pieces in the dome topper," said the FDA announcement. "If consumed, the plastic pieces could potentially cause a choking response."
What's happening?
Danone U.S., parent company of YoCrunch, announced the recall in mid-July following consumer complaints about plastic shards in the company's products. It applies to YoCrunch products with expiration dates ranging from July through September.
A full, detailed list of recalled products can be found here.
"Consumer complaints have reported the presence of plastic pieces in the toppers, which have the potential to cause choking," the FDA said in a statement. "The plastic pieces are transparent, may have sharp edges, and could present a risk to consumers because some pieces are between 7 and 25 mm [0.27 and 0.98 inches] in length."
Information about receiving a refund for recalled products can be obtained via the YoCrunch Consumer Care Line at 877-344-4886, which is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
Why does the YoCrunch yogurt recall matter?
The recall highlighted the health risks inherent in the use of plastic packaging. While the YoCrunch situation is somewhat unique given the size of the plastic shards and the resulting recall, experts have warned for years that plastics pose a significant threat to human health and the environment.
Even under normal use, chemicals known as plasticizers, which are used to give plastic certain qualities like flexibility, have been found to leach into the foods and beverages that humans consume every day.
"Today, plasticizers — the most common of which are called phthalates — show up inside almost all of us, right along with other chemicals found in plastic, including bisphenols such as BPA," according to Consumer Reports. "These have been linked to a long list of health concerns, even at very low levels."
Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home?
Majorly
Sometimes
Not really
I don't know enough about them
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Testing nearly 100 different food products, Consumer Reports found the presence of these harmful chemicals to be widespread, without any apparent pattern as to which foods had the highest concentrations.
"The findings on phthalates are particularly concerning: We found them in almost every food we tested, often at high levels," wrote Consumer Reports. "The levels did not depend on packaging type, and no particular type of food–say, dairy products or prepared meals–was more likely to have them."
Researchers have linked exposure to these chemicals, even in small amounts, to significant human health risks.
"These chemicals disturb the body's hormone systems and can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, neurological impairments of developing fetuses and children, and death," warned a comprehensive report from the Endocrine Society.
What's being done about plastic in our food?
As Consumer Reports pointed out, there are many stages during the manufacturing and distribution process where plastics and their harmful chemicals can find their way into food products.
While the issue is not limited to products sold in plastic containers, taking steps to lower overall plastic consumption can help reduce the amount of plastic and plastic-related chemicals in our food, the environment, and, ultimately, our bodies.
Aside from using your voice, supporting candidates who share your priorities, and pushing for policy-level change, other helpful steps include repurposing single-use containers and making sure that what plastic you do use gets recycled properly.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Solve the daily Crossword
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
2 minutes ago
- Fox News
Public trust in mRna vaccines is gone, NIH director claims
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel reflects on his interview with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya addressing the Trump administration's decision to end investment in mRna vaccine development and more.
CBS News
2 minutes ago
- CBS News
Denver's Youth Violence Prevention Center in danger of losing funding, potentially cutting key staff
A group from the Youth Violence Prevention Center in Denver hosted the second screening of Breaking the Cycle, a documentary addressing youth violence and community efforts to stop it, particularly in neighborhoods like Northeast Denver. Annecya Lawson, a leader with the center, became involved after losing a friend to gun violence. Her experience motivated her to seek change in her community. "It just gives me hope that the community is here to support us," Lawson said. "It opened my eyes to see that there's more out there than just hoping that you can help." The center funds events like the Breaking the Cycle screening to guide young people in the right direction. Between 2016 and 2021, arrests among young people for violent crimes dropped by 75% in Denver's Northeast Park Hill neighborhood, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. Beverly Kingston, director of CU Boulder's Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, highlighted the importance of resources in underserved communities. "Programs like these infuse critical resources into communities that often lack them," Kingston said. "They build social infrastructure for prevention." The study, published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice, focuses on prevention strategies like social-emotional learning and youth-led initiatives, including the Game Changers program. The Youth Violence Prevention Center is funded through a $6 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but that funding ends in September. Without renewal, the center faces a potential $1.2 million budget cut, which could lead to the loss of 40% of staff and a reduction in research efforts. "If we want to keep the numbers down, we have to keep the infrastructure strong," Lawson said. "This has to be a continual process." The center is urging for sustainable funding and community support to continue its vital work.
CBS News
2 minutes ago
- CBS News
Mother sues Florida dairy farm, claiming she lost fetus and almost died after drinking infected raw milk
A Florida dairy farm was named in a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she lost her fetus after getting sick while caring for her toddler, who also got sick after drinking raw milk. According to WKMG, the CBS affiliate in Orlando, Rachel Maddox is suing Keely Farms Dairy, a New Smyrna Beach dairy farm, which state health officials have tied to at least 21 cases of E. coli and Campylobacter bacteria sickness from raw milk consumption. Six of the 21 patients were children under the age of 10, seven were hospitalized and at least two cases have resulted in severe complications, according to the state-issued warning. Maddox's filing demands a jury trial on compensatory damages for permanent physical and mental injuries incurred "as a direct and proximate result of Defendants' conduct," the lawsuit states. The lawsuit, which also names the market where Maddox allegedly bought the milk, was filed Wednesday in Seminole County and claims that Keely Farms shipped milk that contained the bacteria, WKMG reported. "I became very ill and I mean the sickest I've ever been in my life," Maddox told WKMG. "I came really close to dying and our [unborn] son did die. The doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive." According to the lawsuit, Maddox was allegedly unaware of any potential dangers while purchasing the milk in June from an organix, natural food store. When she asked about the packaging's label that "said something to the effect [of] 'for consumption by animals,'" she was allegedly told "that was a technical requirement to sell 'farm milk,'" the lawsuit claims. Maddox told WKMG she had bought the raw milk on and off for months, and while she never drank it, her toddler and other family members had before without any issues. It wasn't until Maddox's toddler drank the milk on June 8 and soon experienced "diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, chills, and resultant dehydration," prompting Maddox to take the child to a hospital the next day in what the lawsuit calls "the first of what would be three emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the next several weeks," WKMG reported. About five days later, Maddox sought medical treatment for "ongoing diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and chills that led to septic shock and severe dehydration," the lawsuit stated. According to the lawsuit, tests returned positive for Campylobacter, which she was told was contracted while caring for her toddler. "I contracted the bacteria from cleaning up the diarrhea and vomiting," Maddox told WKMG. "As a mom, you get a lot of stuff on you when your kid is sick, and I became ill by contracting the bacteria that way." According to the lawsuit, Maddox's 20-week-old fetus died on June 18 and she was readmitted to the hospital with sepsis, going on to leave and return to hospitals multiple times in the coming days for ongoing medical treatment. Maddox has hired Ron Simon & Associates, which describes itself as a national food poisoning law firm, as well as Newsome Law, WKMG reported. WKMG reached out to Keely Farms Dairy last week for a response, but its representatives did not want to comment beyond stating that their milk is not made for human consumption. When WKMG visited Keely Farms' Facebook page earlier, a description allegedly stated in part that "Raw milk is sold 'Not for human consumption' and as 'animal feed.'" A post made on the page on Wednesday also included images depicting what Keely Farms allegedly described as "Last week's milk test results from 2 labs." That post has since been deleted when CBS News Miami visited the page on Sunday. In an X post shared Tuesday by Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, he said that "Floridians have the freedom to make informed health choices," while sharing links to the state's warnings. "I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors," he said. "Be aware of your source and know the risks." Although it is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Florida, it can be sold in the state if it's labeled as a pet food. Raw milk has been promoted by online wellness influencers and raw food advocates, boosting sales in recent years, but public health officials say it can be risky. The Florida Department of Health noted in its statement that "many people consume raw milk safely." But it also advised, "Floridians should be aware of potential risks associated with consumption, which may vary depending on the source of milk. The producer's handling of raw milk and milking procedures are vital in prevention of contamination." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say raw milk can carry life-threatening bacteria, such as E. coli, campylobacter, listeria or salmonella. These can cause symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Severe cases can result in a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which can lead to kidney failure. Since 1987, 143 outbreaks have been linked to raw milk or raw milk products, some involving miscarriages, stillbirths, kidney failure and even deaths, according to the FDA. Pasteurization — a process of heating the milk — kills these bacteria. Pasteurization is required by federal law for any milk sold across state lines. Some individual states also restrict or ban the sale of raw milk, but others allow it. In an interview with CBS News Miami earlier this year, Mark McAfee, founder of one of the world's largest raw milk producers and head of an advocacy group called the Raw Milk Institute, claimed raw milk offers health benefits such as bioactives that boost the immune system. McAfee sells his raw milk legally in California, where no state law prohibits its sale. But the CDC says such claims are unfounded. "Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption," the agency Gonzalez contributed to this report.
