More than half a million children's fruit puree pouches sold at major U.S. retailers are being pulled from shelves over concerns that they may contain strands of plastic, federal regulators announced.
The recall, issued voluntarily by PT Organics, affects specific batches of Pumpkin Tree Peter Rabbit Organics Banana & Strawberry 4-ounce pouches. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the contamination stems from an internal packaging defect that introduced a soft, food-grade plastic strand into the finished product.
The pouches were distributed to Kroger, Meijer, and Target stores nationwide between March 6 and July 13 of this year. Consumers who purchased the product are urged to check the back of the packaging for a barcode reading 8 15367 01078 0, a lane number printed as a '4' near the ingredient list, and one of six specific best-before dates: 01/19/2027, 01/20/2027, 03/17/2027, 03/18/2027, 05/14/2027, or 05/15/2027.
The company said it was alerted to the issue by its packaging supplier, and subsequent inspections confirmed the presence of the plastic strand in a small number of pouches. No injuries have been reported in connection with the defect, but the recall notice warns that consumption of the plastic could pose a choking hazard or cause other health concerns.
This recall comes amid broader scrutiny of food safety practices, particularly for products aimed at young children. In recent months, the FDA has approved new therapies for pediatric conditions, but enforcement actions like this highlight ongoing vulnerabilities in the supply chain.
Consumers who have purchased the affected pouches are advised to dispose of them immediately or return them to the point of sale for a full refund. The recall covers approximately 598,282 units, making it one of the larger food recalls this year targeting children's products.
The incident also underscores the challenges faced by retailers like Target and Kroger, which have been navigating supply chain disruptions and regulatory pressures. Meanwhile, political debates over food safety standards and corporate accountability continue on Capitol Hill, with some lawmakers pushing for stricter oversight.
For now, PT Organics has not commented on whether the defect will lead to changes in its packaging processes. The company has not announced any additional recalls beyond the Banana & Strawberry pouches.
