Kellogg's recalls Mini-Wheats due to metal pieces

Kellogg's Mini-Wheats mascot / Facebook/Frosted Mini-Wheats

Kellogg's has issued a voluntary recall of some of its Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size Original and Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Bite Size products due to the possibility of flexible metal mesh fragments in the food.

Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size Original and Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Bite Size products with the letters KB, AP or FK before or after the Best If Used Before date are part of the recall. The products vary in size from single-serve bowls to large 70-ounce cartons. Use by dates range from April 1, 2013 to Sept. 21, 2013.

A complete list of products and affected UPC codes can be found on the FDA web site.

Although the recall information was put out on Monday on the official Frosted Mini-Wheats Facebook page and Kellogg's website, many consumers only became aware of the potential problem on Thursday.

Some are angry and have posted their complaints online. One YouTube user, mdillard13, recorded himself running a rare earth magnet through a plate of the recalled cereal. A fair amount of the product is picked up by the magnet.

In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, Kellogg's reiterated that the public is not at a high risk.

"We understand and apologize for your concern," the company said. "According to Dr. David Acheson, an internal medicine physician and former Chief Medical Officer at the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) with whom we consulted, the likelihood of these fragments making their way into the food is low; furthermore, the chances that any affected food will cause injury is low."

The recall is expected to cost the company between $20 million to $30 million from their third quarter earnings, the Wall Street Journal reported.

This is the second recent recall for the cereal company, according to the Christian Science Monitor. In 2010, they recalled Fruit Loops, Corn Pops, Apple Jacks and Honey Smacks over a weird smell and strange flavors attributed to packaging.

So far, no one has reported any injury from the metal fragments, the Christian Science Monitor said. Concerned customers who have bought the products or have questions should contact the company through the Contact Us feature on Kelloggs.com or call 800-962-1413 from 8 am to 6 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

[1IFbuyC]

The metal pieces were in there to supply us w/iron; right?

[Concernedmom101]

Why would a company go against labeling GMOs if they were so "healthy" for us and didn't require testing? To me, this just means they are trying to hide it. I have learned that 50 other countries require labeling, why not the USA or Canada?? We all care about our food and our children. Forget the nonsense they are trying to convince people to vote no on prop 37 and all their lies that go with it, YES ON PROP 37!! It's our right to know, darn it!

[sarahpuff108]

I'm with you! I also read somewhere on their FB page that they are censoring people as well as trying to suppress Prop 37 by giving huge sums of money to defeat it? I don't like that all of those other countries are allowed to know what's in their food but we're not. Shame on you Kellogg's!!

[OMGGIRL404]

OMG this reminds me of Trans fat and pink slime...they tried to hide that too!

[Concernedmom101]

Can somebody tell me, what is going on? First the recall, now GMOs?? I have a right to know what my kids are eating for breakfast!

[hypnotoad72]

Profiteering. Fewer standards and quality controls, pocket the difference as "profit".

That seems to be what's going on.

[Diannnnnna]

Kellogg's now has genetically modified metal to go with their genetically modified corn, soy, sugar, canola and cottonseed oil. How much worse can it get??? YUCK! The GMOs are heavily doused with RoundUp. The GMO corn makes its own pesticide. Just what we need in our food. Metal, pesticides and herbicides! Kellogg's is already being hit by a national boycott because of their GMOs. Looks like they are having another bad day!

[OMGGIRL404]

OMG are you serious?

[sarahpuff108]

I've heard of GMO's but didn't know Kellogg's used them. They appear so wholesome. I went to their FB page and saw that not only is their customer service poor but they're censoring people's posts as well?

[OMGGIRL404]

OMG i just went to the kellogg's facebook page. What the h**l is Bt Corn?

[Nate650]

GMO corn, most likely a product of Monsanto.

[fbgunner]

That person must be a complete fool! There is no way there would be THAT much metal in the cereal, and not be visible! What he's observing is the magnetic qualities due to the Iron added to fortify the cereal (I'm not joking - how do you think they fortify cereal? They actually use iron powder). So, now we're going to see people all over doing this and thinking they have contaminated product! Try this with other cereals - just make sure to use crumbled bits that aren't too heavy for your magnet to pick up.

Incidentally, problems like this arise from the daily wear and tear on the equipment. There are metal detectors to detect this so the real question is why didn't they catch it in this case?

There has only been one complaint and its likely a very isolated incident - the company is just being super cautious, as they should.

[hypnotoad72]

"product"?

We're talking about cereal; must the generic corporate placeholder be shoved in at every turn?

Great points in your second paragraph... maybe the electronic circuit to detect machine problems was defective... or there's no money made in quality assurance and Kellogg's was just doing things on the cheap like how any company would...

Ditto for the third paragraph; it sounds like an isolated case. Kellogg's being cautious is rather a good sign of having some responsibility and taking ownership in the matter...

[Utah18]

Just a note. This exact same thing was just performed on a crushed up handful of Total cereal. I don't see this video as being of concern.

I'm not 100% sure on this, but could it be the iron in the cereal being attracted to the magnet?

I'm assuming when they say "mesh fragments" they are talking about larger pieces.

[dylan_89]

i hope no one eats a bowl of mini wheats and goes in an MRI. YIKES!!

[CHET2013]

That's not a beneficial form of fiber.

[counters-trike]

It seems that nothing is sacred these days. I am almost through with my Frosted Mini Wheats. Strange that I am suddenly attracted to my Roomba...