Milk Recall: Nearly 20,000 Cases Removed Due to Potential for Premature Product Spoilage
A class II recall was issued for 20,000 cases of Horizon milk products due to the ‘potential for premature product spoilage during shelf life’
If you prefer cow’s milk to non-dairy options and regularly pick up some at the grocery store, you may want to be extra vigilant in your selection. On January 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared a class II recall for Horizon Milk products due to the potential for premature product spoilage—nearly 20,000 cases were removed from shelves. Keep reading to learn about which products were affected and how to stay safe from hazardous foods and beverages.
Inside the Horizon Milk products recall
Based in Colorado, Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC, issued a voluntary recall for its Horizon Organic Aseptic Plain Whole Milk on December 13, 2024. As of January 17, the recall has been identified as class II per the FDA, and 19,688 cases were removed from shelves.
Class II risk levels are the second most severe. According to the FDA, they are given when “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
The milk products, which were distributed to stores in Arizona, California and Nevada, were recalled due to the “potential for premature product spoilage during shelf life.”
What to look for during the milk recall
The whole milk products come in 8-oz cartons and are sold individually or in packs of 12. The 12-packs have universal product codes (UPCs) of 3663207113, while the single units have UPCs of 3663207127.
Additionally, out of the 19,688 cases that were removed, 8,654 had expiry dates of March 3, 2025, 7,385 had expiry dates of March 4, 2025, 1,781 had expiry dates of March 6, 2025 and 1,868 had expiry dates of March 7, 2025.
Right now, there’s speculation that the reason for the recall is heat damage to the milk during processing, but this has not been confirmed.
The FDA has issued a statement
Both Horizon Milk and the FDA are taking steps to address the recall.
“The voluntary recall was initiated with the knowledge of the U.S. FDA, and it was classified on January 17, 2024, as Class II. A root cause investigation concluded heat damage to the milk during processing that affected milk properties was the primary cause for the premature product spoilage,” Horizon Organic told Food & Wine in a statement. “Corrective and preventative actions have been implemented to prevent recurrence. This voluntary recall is not related to an allergen, microorganism, or any pathogen contamination, and no other Horizon Organic products are affected.”
The FDA has not yet issued specific instructions for this recall. Still, it typically asks consumers to discard the affected product, avoid drinking it, and potentially return it to the store for a refund.
How products can spoil during transport
While heat damage was a possible reason for the Horizon milk recall, products can spoil for various reasons. These include:
- Defects in packaging, such as leaks or weak seals
- Growth of bacteria due to extreme hot or cold temperatures
- Amount of time the item is stored before use
- Exposure to critters, such as bugs, rodents or parasites
- Enzyme activity can deteriorate and break down milk components like fats or proteins
No illnesses have been reported regarding the Horizon Milk recall. If you consumed the whole milk that was removed, pay attention to how you’re feeling. Look out for symptoms such as gastric distress, diarrhea, vomiting or other indicators of food poisoning, and see your doctor if these persist.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
