Ocean Spray recalls thousands of pounds of Craisins due to metal fragments

Ocean Spray has decided to recall thousands of pounds of Craisins – sweetened dried cranberries – after some lots were possibly contaminated with small, hair-like metal fragments.

The giant company announced the voluntary recall yesterday, immediately after one of its bestselling periods, Thanksgiving, when huge volumes of cranberries are eaten.

Ocean Spray initiated the recall on Wednesday, spokesman John Isaf told MNSBC.

It wasn’t not clear when the company became aware of the problem.

The recall affects some Original flavour Craisins in 5-ounce, 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages, as well as bulk-sweetened dried cranberries in 10-pound packages.

The very small hair-like metal fragments are unlikely to cause consumer injury, the spokesman said.

Ocean Spray officials said they’ve received no reports of consumers hurt by the fragments.

The fragments were caused by a malfunction on a piece of equipment on the production line at one of the firm’s cranberry-making facilities.

The problem has been identified and corrected, John Isaf said.

Isaf would not say how many packages were recalled, saying only that it was “very small”.

Less than one-quarter of 1% of dried cranberries produced annually are affected by the recall, he said.

But given that Ocean Spray produces an estimated 60 million pounds annually, the return could involve about 150,000 pounds of dried cranberries.

The recalled product lots (only dates followed by the letter M are affected) are: 5-oz. Craisins UPC: 00293-000 Best By Dates/Letter: Oct 27 2012 M

10-oz. Craisins UPC: 29456-000 and 29464-000 Best By Dates/Letter: Oct 27 2012 M, Oct 28 2012 M, Oct 29 2012 M

48-oz. Craisins UPC: 00678-318 Best By Dates/Letter: Oct 27 2012 M, Oct 28 2012 M, Nov 3 2012 M, Nov 4 2012 M, Nov 5 2012 M, Nov 6 2012 M, Nov 7 2012 M, Nov 10 2012 M, Nov 11 2012 M.

10-lb. bulk ingredient & food service UPC: 03477-000 Best By Dates/Letter: 30 Oct 2013 M, 31 Oct 2013 M, 1 Nov 2013 M, 5 Nov 2013 M.

Ocean Spray advises shoppers to dispose of the product, keeping the UPC label and Best By dates, and contacting the Ocean Spray consumer hotline at 1-800-662-3263.