Oregon-based PT Organics Limited is recalling some of its fruit puree pouches for toddlers sold in the United States due to the potential presence of plastic.
The recall applies to 4 oz. packages of Pumpkin Tree Peter Rabbit Organics Banana & Strawberry pouches, which may contain strands of soft, food-grade plastic due to an internal packaging defect, the company said in a July 21 announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration.
The items have the barcode 8 15367 01078 0 and come with 2027 Best Before dates of Jan. 19, Jan. 20, March 17, March 18, May 14, and May 15.
The products were sold nationwide exclusively through Target, Kroger, and Meijer retail stores between March 6 and July 13 this year.
“No injuries have been reported. No other Pumpkin Tree-branded products, best-before dates, or flavors are affected by this recall,” the announcement said.
The company advised consumers who have the recalled items in their possession to discard them or return them to the place of purchase.
The recall was initiated by the company after its packaging supplier recalled a production run of defective pouches last week. PT Organics conducted inspections of the final product wrapped in the recalled packaging and found strands of plastic inside certain pouches.
This thin strand of plastic can detach and leave the pouch when the package is squeezed, the company said. PT Organics clarified that products with barcode 8 15367 01010 0 were not affected by the recall.
According to the company, it was removing the potentially impacted pouches from the marketplace and working with its packaging supplier and retailers on the issue. Consumers with queries can contact PT Organics at 888-566-2363.
The Epoch Times reached out to PT Organics for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
According to a September 2023 study published in Heliyon, foreign material contamination was responsible for roughly 1 in 10 food recalls over the previous two decades, with plastic fragments being the “most common” complaint. Sources of plastic contamination in food include hand tools, conveyors, packaging materials, and freezer belts.
Plastic pieces in food can cause injuries, such as infections or choking. The victim may end up having to undergo surgery to remove any problematic plastic fragments.
The study called plastic the “most problematic” among foreign materials when it comes to detection during food production activities.
Most manufacturers use low-density plastic during food production. However, these are less dense than water, which makes them “virtually invisible to detection systems.”
The study suggested that manufacturers choose high-density plastics or metal-infused plastics to facilitate detection.
In a November 2023 post, business consulting company Exponent said that foreign matter contamination in packaged food can originate from poor maintenance practices.
For instance, if a business lacks routine preventive maintenance, contaminants such as plastic from conveyors can enter the food production line.
Businesses can implement daily and monthly preventive maintenance and inspections to identify potential problems in their manufacturing process that could lead to foreign matter contamination. Third-party audits can also help in this regard.