Chobani, the maker of a popular brand of Greek yogurt, announced that the company is removing some of its yogurt from store shelves in response to customer complaints about swollen or bloated packages.
The New Berlin, New York-based company released a statement on its blog saying in part:
“Our thorough investigation has identified a type of mold commonly found in the dairy environment. The product in question is less than 5% of our production and is limited to products produced at our Idaho facility, which accounts for only one third of our production capacity.”
The company says it has worked with retail partners to voluntarily remove the majority of potentially affected products, which bear the code “16-012” and have expiration dates between September 11 and October 20 of this year. No formal recall has been issued.
Consumers who have purchased the affected yogurt are advised to contact Chobani’s Customer Loyalty Team directly at chobani.com/care or e-mail care@chobani.com to coordinate replacements.
Strained, Greek-style yogurt has increased wildly in popularity in the United States over the past several years. Recently the U.S. Department of Agriculture kicked off its National Greek Yogurt Pilot Program, offering it as part of school meal programs. The creamy treat offers higher nutritional benefits than traditional yogurt with less sugar, carbohydrates, sodium and lactose, as well as an increase in protein per ounce.
The ballooning demand for the dairy option has created a $2 billion industry, and raised some controversy about the waste products potential effects on the environment.
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