Shoppers are urged to check their fridges after a surprising discovery prompted the removal of hundreds of gallons from store shelves.
Whether you’re whipping up your signature mashed potatoes, enriching a batter, or baking a classic Thanksgiving pie, milk is sure to be an unsung hero of your holiday cooking. But before you use a splash to transform your favorite dishes, be sure to check your milk container’s label in light of a just-announced recall.
Prairie Farms, an Edwardsville, Illinois company, has issued a recall for a limited amount of its Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk, produced at the company’s facility Dubuque, Iowa. The affected milk was then distributed exclusively to Woodman’s grocery chain locations in two Midwestern states: Illinois and Wisconsin.
According to a November 26 announcement posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the action follows the discovery that certain products may contain food-grade cleaning agents, “which may cause illness if consumed.” In total, 320 gallons of the potentially contaminated milk were reportedly sold to consumers before the problem was discovered.
Prairie Farms learned of the possible quality concern on November 24 and immediately launched an internal investigation. Based on the findings, the company quickly coordinated product removal from stores. Products bearing the following information are included in the recall:
- Product: Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk
- Code Date: DEC08
- Plant Code: PLT19-145
- Facility: Dubuque, Iowa
- Production Window/Time Stamp: 17:51–21:23
- UPC: 7273023117
No other Prairie Farms items are included in this recall. “Consumers who purchased the product with the above code dates should not consume it; they may safely dispose of it or return it to the store for a refund,” the FDA advises.
Though the report states that all remaining affected products have been removed from store shelves, it also lists the following areas as “Remaining Product Distribution Locations”:
- Illinois: Bloomingdale, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Lakemoor, North Aurora, Rockford
- Wisconsin: Appleton, Beloit, Green Bay, Janesville, Kenosha, Madison, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Onalaska, Racine, Sun Prairie, Waukesha
In a statement provided to The Healthy by a Prairie Farms spokesperson, the company says it “is cooperating fully with regulatory authorities and conducting a thorough internal investigation to determine how this occurred and to strengthen safeguards going forward. We understand the trust consumers place in our products and take that responsibility seriously. Prairie Farms is committed to strengthening our safeguards and ensuring we continue to maintain that trust moving forward.”
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
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