A recall of oyster crackers has been upgraded by the FDA to a Class II level due to concerns over potential foreign material contamination. The affected products were sold at Target and Walmart under various store brands, including Market Pantry, Great Value, and VISTA.
Shearer’s Foods, an Ohio-based food manufacturer, initiated the initial recall on February 21. However, after further inspection, the FDA increased the classification to Class II, indicating a moderate risk of adverse health consequences.
The products being recalled include certain batches of oyster crackers with sell-by dates ranging from May 2025 and UPC codes specific to each store brand. Approximately 15,874 cases have been affected by the recall, which spans across 22 states in the US.
Consumers are advised to return the affected products to their place of purchase for a refund or exchange. The FDA has not released details on how the products may have become contaminated with foreign material but mentioned stainless steel wire as a potential cause.
This is not an isolated incident; metal contamination in food recalls is becoming increasingly common. In January, ALDI recalled its Chicken & Cheese Taquitos due to fears of metal contamination, and just last month, MadeGood granola bars were recalled over concerns of a piece of metal being present in the product.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/oyster-cracker-recall-fda-escalates-recall-class-ii-amid-potential-presence-foreign-material