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Mold In Popular Kids' Applesauce Leads To Recall

by Jill Di Donato

Does one bad apple really spoil the bunch? The voluntary recall of GoGo squeeZ applesauce, a preservative-free snack that comes in a re-sealable plastic pouch, could indicate as such. According to a press release the company issued on its website Oct. 8, GoGo squeeZ applesauce announced a voluntary recall of their kids' snack pouches over concerns that some pouches may contain non-hazardous mold. The recall applies to any pouches marked with a "Best Before Date" of June 30, 2016 to July 26, 2016, though according to GoGo squeeZ, no cases of illness have been reported.

The press release claims GoGo squeeZ determined that the mold (which it described as the kind that typically grows on fruit) poses no health risk, but is still "gross and unpleasant." In other words, this is a quality control recall. According to GoGo squeeZ, affected products will be easy to spot, as they will likely smell and taste nasty. In some cases, the mold might even be visible. In the company's press release, Michael Larroche, Founder and CEO of GoGo squeeZ, further explained what led to the recall:

An independent lab tested the mold, and an expert microbiologist determined that it poses no known health risk. However, we know mold is gross and unpleasant to look at or taste, and this is simply not the kind of experience we want you to have. As a consequence, we took every step to fully understand and fix the problem. We are completely confident that we are once again meeting our high quality standards. Additionally, we have been working closely with the FDA on our actions and we will keep you updated with any new information.

If you have recently purchased a GoGo squeeZ snack pouch, the company urges you take a close look at the "Best Before Date." If you do in fact have one of the affected pouches, you should not consume it. Instead, get rid of the product immediately, and call GoGo squeeZ for a replacement voucher, or if you have any additional questions, at 1-844-275-5841. You can also visit the company's official website and read GoGo squeeZ's FAQ's for more information on how their products are made and sold. Luckily, Larroche assured customers in the press release, the risk of winding up with an affected pouch is small. "We were able to catch most of the potentially affected products before they got to the stores," he stated. "However, a small amount may still have reached store shelves."

The FDA has yet to comment on the recall, though GoGo squeeZ's CEO emphasized that "No other GoGo squeeZ products are impacted by this voluntary recall," and that the applesauce mold was due to an isolated production issue.

Image: Pixabay