After a customer reportedly first found the problem, there's a possible health risk from eating these treats found both online and in stores.
Once considered more of a futuristic choice first popular with astronauts or campers, freeze-dried foods have become increasingly popular—especially as candy or snack options—in recent years, according to The Food Institute. Designed to be shelf-stable for long periods of time, freeze-dried fruit snacks can provide a burst of freshness no matter the month. But a Monday morning notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) details why two types of freeze-dried strawberry products now face a recall due to “the potential presence of metal in the product.”
The Georgia Nut Company (GNC)—a third-party manufacturer for Tru Fru, LLC—issued the voluntary recall for “Tru Fru Freeze-Dried Strawberries in Dark & White Chocolate” and “Tru Fru Freeze-Dried Strawberries & Crème,” per the FDA notice. The Tru Fru website suggests the company sells both freeze-dried and “frozen fresh” fruit options. The affected items were sold both online and in stores across the U.S., including major retailers such as Albertsons, CVS, Food Lion, H-E-B, Hungryroot, Kroger, Target, and others, according to the notice.
The FDA say the recall was first initiated the recall on September 26 after a consumer reported the issue. Though no injuries or illnesses were reported at the time of publishing, consumers are urged to throw away any remaining product. Tru Fru has also set up an online reimbursement form.
While the FDA has not yet assigned a specific risk level to the event, the agency warns that consuming these products could result in serious injury: “Hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury including laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach and intestine, as well as damage to the teeth and gums,” the notice states.
You can spot the recalled strawberry snacks, sold in pink and white resealable bags, by looking for their item numbers, UPC codes, and 10-digit manufacturing codes, which begin with the four digit numbers listed below:
Tru Fru Freeze Dried Strawberries in Dark & White Chocolate
- 1.7 ounce (oz)
- Item #: 10300442
- UPC #:850048358331
- Manufacturing Codes: 514A, 514B, 514C, 514D, 525A, 525B, 525C, 526B, 526C, 526D, 526E, 526F, 521C, 521D, 521E, 522B, 522C, 522D, 522E, 524D, 524E, 525A, 525B, 525C, 525D, 525E, 526A
- 3.4 ounce (oz)
- Item #: 10300458
- UPC #: 850048358270
- Manufacturing Codes: 517B, 517C, 517D, 517E, 517F, 518D, 518E, 518F, 519A, 519B, 524A, 524B, 524C, 529C, 529D, 529E, 530C, 530D, 530E, 531A, 531B, 531C, 531D, 531E, 532A, 532B
- 13 ounce (oz)
- Item #: 10300474
- UPC #: 850048358379
- Manufacturing Codes: 515A, 516B, 516C
Tru Fru Freeze Dried Strawberries & Crème
- 3.4 ounce (oz)
- Item #: 10300455
- UPC #: 850048358249
- Manufacturing Codes: 520B, 520C, 520D, 520E, 520F, 521A, 524C, 524D, 524E
The above FDA link also included product images. No other Tru Fru items or lot numbers have been named in the recall, and the company plans to “work with retailers to remove recalled products from store shelves.”
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