Yogurt maker recalls products for potential mold contamination

The Idaho-based company said the recalled products are stamped with the code 16-012 and have sell-by date codes of Sept. 11-13 through Oct. 7-13, and include these products:

• Chobani 6 oz. cups – all flavors

• Chobani 16 oz. tubs – all flavors

• Chobani 32 oz. tubs – all flavors

• Chobani 3.5 oz. cups – all flavors

• Chobani Bite 3.5 oz. cups – all flavors

• Chobani Flip 5.3 oz. containers – all flavors

• Chobani Champions cups 3.5 oz. – all flavors

• Chobani Champions tubes 2.25 oz., 8, 16 and 36 count – all flavors

Consumers who have purchased the recalled yogurt should discard the product and can contact the company at chobani.com/care or call (877) 847-6181 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time.

Cincinnati-based Kroger was affected by the recalls and posted signs in the yogurt section of its stores warning shoppers and advising them they could return the products for a full refund, according to Kroger spokeswoman Rachael Betzler.

Dorothy Lane Market stores contacted about 200 customers who had purchased any type of Chobani yogurt in the last four weeks and who used a loyalty card that allows for tracking of purchases, according to spokeswoman Barb Collins.

“Out of the 200, I am sure most will be a different date or lot code, but you never know,” Collins said. “I had one customer call me today, and it turns out her yogurt fit the recall profile.”

Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi said his stores pulled the products off the shelves when the problem first surfaced in late August, prior to Thursday’s nationwide recall, after it was notified by Chobani. “They have long since been replaced with new product,” Guglielmi said. A spokeswoman for Walmart also said its stores pulled the products from shelves last week.

The yogurt maker said in a news release, “Chobani holds itself to the highest standards and is committed to fully transparent and decisive action to rectify any identified issues.”

On the Chobani web site, the company’s founder acknowledged mold was found in some of its products that came from its Idaho facility. “While this type of mold is common in the dairy environment, particularly when using only natural ingredients that are absent of artificial preservatives, it’s still unacceptable to me and all of our yogurt makers,” the statement said.