Oatly and other brands expand recall over potential contamination

Four additional products from Oatly, the popular oat milk with Philly-area connections, have been added to a voluntary recall issued by one of its North America manufacturing partners. The expanded recall list also includes products by brands such as PediaSure and Ensure.

The California-based manufacturer Lyons Magnus made an initial recall of 53 products spanning multiple brands in late July and added to the list Wednesday. According to the Food and Drug Administration, potential microbial contamination is the reason for the recalls. An analysis found that the products in the recall didn’t meet sterility specifications.

Even if nothing seems off about the products — many on the list don’t expire until well into 2023 — the FDA warns consumers not to digest them because they might be contaminated with cronobacter sakazakii and clostridium botulinum.

Though rare, cronobacter sakazakii can cause fever, vomiting, and urinary tract infection, with immunocompromised people being more susceptible to infection, per the FDA. Clostridium botulinum may cause severe food poisoning that can include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. In its worst form, the poisoning can lead to respiratory paralysis.

» READ MORE: Oatly milk among 53 products FDA has recalled over bacterial infection

The Oatly products added to the recall list are Oat-Milk Barista Edition (11-ounce cartons), Oat-Milk Chocolate (11-ounce cartons), Oat-Milk (11-ounce cartons), and Oat-Milk Barista Edition (32-ounce slim cartons).

“As it pertains to Oatly products, the scope of this expanded recall remains very specific and is exclusively limited to distribution in North America of four SKUs made within a defined production window and manufactured at Lyons Magnus,” said a statement from the company.

Oatly said consumers can dispose the affected products or return them to retailers for a refund.

Oatly has a factory in Millville, N.J., and a development lab in Bridesburg.

Also on the list are a handful of Sweetie Pie Organics smoothies, including two that cater to women seeking to increase lactation, and a PediaSure Harvest product used for tube feeding.

Consumers can check the top of bottles or cartons to see if the lot codes and best-buy dates match any of the recalled products. The same information can be found on carton cases in multipacks.

The complete list of newly recalled products can be found on the FDA’s website, and customers can reach Lyons Magnus recall support at 800-627-0557.