Kraft recalls cheese after consumer choking complaints

02-Aug-2015 - Last updated on 03-Aug-2015 at 07:18 GMT

Affected Kraft cheese products

The Kraft Heinz Company is recalling Kraft Singles individually-wrapped slices after 10 consumer complaints about the packaging, including three of consumers choking.

The firm said a thin strip of the individual packaging film could remain stuck to the slice after the wrapper has been removed, which could cause a choking hazard.

A total of 36,000 cases were shipped by Kraft Heinz to retailers in the US, Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman.

The recall applies to 3-lb. and 4-lb. sizes of Kraft Singles American and White American pasteurized prepared cheese product with a Best When Used By Date of 29 DEC 15 through 04 JAN 16, followed by Manufacturing Code S54 or S55.

S54 and S55 codes refer to the two production lines on which the impacted product was made.

The Best When Used By Date and Manufacturing Code are stamped on the larger 3-lb. and 4-lb. boxes and the enclosed individual 1-lb. packages.

“We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed. Consumers who purchased this product should not eat it. They should return it to the store where purchased for an exchange or full refund,” the firm said in a statement.

Kraft recalled 242,000 cases of its Macaroni & Cheese Dinner after eight consumer complaints due to boxes containing metal in March this year.

The firm also recalled nearly 8,000 cases of Kraft American Singles in the US due to concerns about premature spoilage late last year.