Nearly a week before Chobani, Inc. issued a voluntary recall of its tainted yogurt, it apparently sought to “quietly remove the yogurt from the store shelves without alerting the public,” the Chicago Tribune said. The FDA reportedly called this move “unusual.”
The recall, which affects 5% of Chobani products worldwide, has received widespread attention from major news outlets since yesterday’s public announcement, and the FDA is investigating the yogurt company’s tactics, according to FDA spokeswoman Tamara Ward. Consumers have complained of moldy yogurt and bloated or swelling containers. In addition, some consumers have reported illness, including gastrointestinal distress. Chobani is the second-best seller of Greek yogurt in the U.S., after Yoplait.
The Tribune provides further details on the sequence of events:
Chobani’s problems began last Friday, when unhappy yogurt-eaters began to complain, flooding the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages reporting foul smells, bloated containers, and gastrointestinal distress.
Some commented on the characteristically thick Greek yogurt’s “runny” consistency and said they would not buy Chobani again.
The company had asked some retailers last week to remove certain yogurt cups from store shelves but did not issue a formal recall.
If you have purchased any of the affected yogurt products—which list a Best Buy date between September 11 and October 7, 2013, and carry the IMS number 16-012—the FDA recommends that you discard it immediately.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a Chobani product, contact us at www.andrewsthornton.com or toll-free at 1-800-644-1734.
