Beech-Nut Nutrition has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of its infant rice cereal. The recall of Beech-Nut Stage 1, Single Grain Rice Cereal is a result of a routine sampling program by the State of Alaska, which found that samples from that production lot tested above the guidance level for naturally occurring inorganic arsenic set by FDA in August 2020, according to a notice posted on the agency’s website on June 8, 2021.
FDA has stated that exposure to elevated levels of naturally occurring inorganic arsenic can pose a health hazard to young children.
Beech-Nut has also decided to exit the market for single-grain rice cereal because the company is concerned about the ability to consistently obtain rice flour well-below the FDA guidance level and Beech-Nut specifications for naturally occurring inorganic arsenic, the company says.
“The safety of infants and children is Beech-Nut’s top priority,” said Jason Jacobs, the company’s vice president of food safety and quality. No illnesses related to these product codes have been reported to date, and no other production dates or Beech-Nut products are affected by this recall.
The specific Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice item (UPC Code# 52200034705) being recalled has an expiration date of 01MAY2022 and product codes: 103470XXXX and 093470XXXX. The expiration date and product numbers can be found at the bottom of the Beech-Nut Single Rice Cereal canister.
In response to a February 2021 report released by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, FDA issued a letter to baby and toddler food manufacturers reminding them of their obligations under the FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule to consider chemical hazards in foods when engaged in their required hazard analysis of food products. In April, the agency released an action plan aimed at reducing the toxic elements in foods commonly eaten by babies and young children.
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