Parents in the United States are being told not to buy or serve a popular brand of toddler snack bars after several young children choked on them, some suffering complete airway obstruction.
The US Food and Drug Administration issued the warning after receiving reports that toddlers aged between 18 months and two and a half years old choked when the bars were chewed, forming what the agency described as a dry, sticky mass that standard first aid, including back blows and the Heimlich manoeuvre, may not dislodge.
All flavours and lots covered
The recall covers every Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bar, in all three flavours, quantities and varieties, including all lot codes and expiration dates up to August 26, 2027. The flavours are Apple, Sweet Potato and Spinach; Strawberry, Pumpkin and Beet; and Banana, Pumpkin and Cauliflower.
The company, based in Berkeley, California, recalled all three flavours late on October 30 and says it will reformulate the product. No deaths have been reported, and no other Once Upon a Farm product is affected.
Where the bars were sold
The bars were sold nationwide through the company’s website, distributors and shops in 45 states and Puerto Rico, including Costco, Target and Walmart, and may also have been sold on Amazon and by other third-party sellers, the FDA said. Consumers should throw the bars away immediately or return them for a refund, and should not serve them to children.
What parents should do
The FDA’s advice is simple: do not buy or serve any Tractor Wheels bars, and throw away any boxes already at home or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Because the recall covers all lot codes and expiration dates, there is no batch number to check: if the box says Tractor Wheels, it is covered. The company says it will reformulate the product, and no other Once Upon a Farm product is part of the recall. Parents who think a child may have choked should seek emergency help immediately, and can report problems through the FDA’s Human Foods Safety Reporting Portal. Retailers including Costco, Target and Walmart have been told to stop selling the bars.
