Manufacturer of grab-and-go drinks under the Premier Protein brand, Yons Magnus, has announced the voluntary recall of 53 of its products due to potential bacterial contamination.
After tests revealed that the products could potentially be contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii, the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday that they are attempting to remove the affected products from store shelves and from consumers’ hands. Despite Lyons Magnus’s claim that no illnesses or complaints were connected to the recalled products, the company maintains that the microbe poses a special risk to vulnerable populations and that consumers should avoid the impacted products.
“While infection related to Cronobacter sakazakii is rare, the common symptoms of illness could include fever, vomiting and urinary tract infection,” the company said in a statement. “However, vulnerable and immunocompromised populations may be more susceptible to infection.”
Numerous other drinks, including Oatly’s barista version of oat milk, have been recalled due to bacterial contamination. On March 30, 2019, in a coffee shop in Berlin, Germany, a flat white coffee with milk froth poured into the shape of plant leaves is ready to be sipped.
According to the company, the affected products either have a wider distribution or have national distribution. The lot code and best-by date, which are located on top of each individual carton or on the side of multi-carton cases, can be used to identify them. They come in a variety of packaging under various brand names.
“Anyone who has a recalled product in his or her possession should dispose of it immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a refund,” the company said in the statement.
Several shakes sold under the Premier Protein brand, including its chocolate, vanilla, and café latte varieties, are included in the recall.
The business has also recalled its Oatly oat milk in the Oat-Milk Barista Edition. This specific Oatly product comes in a small 32-ounce container and is better suited for blending with coffee due to its higher fat content.
Lyons Magnus is also recalling five different flavors of Stumptown’s to-go coffee cartons. The recall also includes Intelligentsia coffee beverages as well as other products, including four flavors of plant-based protein shakes under the Aloha brand.
The same bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii, was responsible for this year’s recall and widespread shortage of infant formula, which were both connected to at least two fatalities. It can survive in extremely dry environments like powdered milk or infant formula.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that although Cronobacter infections are uncommon, they can be fatal for young infants and typically happen in the first few days or weeks of life. Additionally, people over the age of 65 and those with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk from the bacteria.
Although the majority of states do not require doctors to report cases to local health authorities, the CDC noted on its website that it receives reports of two to four cases of illness linked to Cronobacter each year.