I-Team: What Is Causing "Chemical" Smell In Some Graham Crackers?

BOSTON (CBS) - Graham crackers are a staple in most kitchen cupboards across the country.

But when Vanessa Brown's teenage daughter opened a box of Nabisco crackers in January, she sent an alarming text message to her mom.

"She said the taste was just horrible and smelled like chemicals and she felt nauseous," Brown said. "I was thinking, 'Oh, my God! Are they poisonous?!"

When the Saugus resident got home, she said the paint-like smell was overpowering, so she lit a candle and sealed the crackers in a Ziploc bag before calling the customer service phone number listed on the box. According to Brown, the representative told her the crackers did not present a health concern, and offered to send some coupons.

But the anxious parent just wanted some answers.

"Did they test the crackers? Should there be a recall?" Brown wondered.

Nabisco told the I-Team the problem was a box of crackers opened months after the "best if used by" date of February 2015.

"Manufacturers put 'best if used by dates' on products to indicate to consumers the time period in which they can ensure an optimal product experience for consumers," said Laurie Guzzinati, a spokeswoman for Mondelez International, the company that owns Nabisco. "A product so far past that date is one in which we'd encourage the consumer to discard."

However, Stan Flewelling told the I-Team he bought his box of Honey Maid graham crackers several months before the "best if used by" date last year. The Rowley resident even ate a cracker before concluding something was not right.

"There was a chemical taste," Flewelling said. "I definitely think there is a problem with the product."

Based on online complaints the I-Team reviewed, plenty of other consumers agree. On the Consumer Affairs web site, Nabisco customers all over the country left appetizing reviews like "hideous smell," "tasted like poison," and "stung my mouth."

There is even a Twitter page dedicated to the issue along with a corresponding hashtag, #StinkyCrackers.

The I-Team took the samples to Jon Trelfa, who runs a food safety testing lab in Salisbury.

After taking a smell of the crackers, Trelfa commented, "It's very strong. It actually choked me."

Trelfa was surprised because dry products like graham crackers are known for a having a long shelf life. Even crackers opened after the "best if used by date" should not have that kind of odor, he explained.

"Nowhere from this package do I smell what would resemble graham crackers," Trelfa said. "So there is definitely something that's not right."

The I-Team enlisted Trelfa's lab to test the samples to get some answers. According to the results, the crackers showed a high level of malondialdehyde, a chemical commonly found in oils that go rancid.

Eric Decker, a lipid specialist and University of Massachusetts professor, told the I-Team the chemical is not good for a person's health. However, he said the smell and taste of the rancid oils in the crackers is enough to keep people from consuming enough to be harmful.

"It's more of a quality issue than a safety issue," Decker said. "You're not going to eat a bunch of it."

Guzzanati, the Nabisco spokeswoman, said the company has no indication there is an issue with either its original or Honey Maid products.

She said the company was aware of some consumer complaints from late 2014 and early 2015 regarding the Honey Maid low-fat crackers. That product has since been reformulated and the specific product that resulted in the complaints is no longer on the market, Guzzanati explained.

"If any consumer has an issue with our product, we would hope and encourage them to get in touch with us," Guzzanati said.

Consumers can report concerns by calling 1-800-NABISCO or on the company web site.

For Brown, the experience with the strong odor still leaves a bad taste.

"You give those to your kids and you're concerned. What's going into their system? What's going into their body?" Brown said.

Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.