Kraft Foods Global, Inc. announced on Friday that it was voluntarily recalling three varieties of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Single Serve Microwaveable Cupswith limited “best when used by” dates because they could contain small pieces of thin wire bristle.
In a statement released from its headquarters in Northfield, Illinois, the world’s second-largest food company said they have received no complaints about the products and were issuing the recall “out of an abundance of caution”. They did not give details of how they discovered the products could be contaminated.
The affected products can be identified from their “best when used by” dates which are on the bottom of the package. A full list of the products affected is given in the table below.
About 137,000 cases of the products, which were manufactured in Champaign, Illinois and Lakeville, Minnesota, have been shipped to outlets across the US.
The products have not been distributed in Canada.
No other “best when used by” dates of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Single Serve Microwaveable Cups or any other Kraft Foods products are being recalled, said the company in a statement.
If you bought one of these products, you should not eat it but return it to the store in exchange for a full refund. You can also contact the company’s consumer relations department at 1-800-308-1841 from Mondays to Fridays
To view an image of the products, click here.
| Product | Size | Best When Used By Dates | UPC |
| Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Microwaveable Cups | 2.39 oz. cup | 16 MAY 2012 | 2100002322 |
| Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Four Pack Microwaveable Cups | 4 x 2.39 oz. cup | 24 APR 2012 to 16 MAY 2012 | 2100002339 |
| Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with 2% Milk Microwaveable Cups | 2.19 oz cup | 25 MAR 2012 to 30 MAR 2012 | 2100002323 |
| Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with 2% Milk Four Pack Microwaveable Cups | 4 x 2.19 oz cup | 29 MAR 2012 to 12 APR 2012 | 2100002946 |
| Velveeta Rotini & Cheese Broccoli Microwaveable Cups | 2.44 oz cup | 29 APR 2012 to 14 MAY 2012 | 2100002318 |
Kraft, which describes itself as a “global snacks powerhouse” had a revenue of $49.2 billion in 2010, more than half of which was earned outside North America. The company sells biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries.
As well as the brand Kraft, it owns many other brands familiar to households worldwide, including Cadbury, Jacobs, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident and Tang.
According to an Associated Press report in early August this year, the company expects to divide itself into two publicly traded companies sometime in 2012: a grocery business focusing on North America and a global snacking business.
Written by Catharine Paddock