At Least 89 People Report Getting Sick After Eating Chobani Yogurt
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (CBSNewYork/AP) -- At least 89 people have reported getting sick after eating Chobani Greek yogurt manufactured in Idaho, but no link to the product has been confirmed.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Tamara Ward told the Twin Falls, Idaho Times-News Monday that some people described nausea and cramps after eating Chobani yogurt manufactured in Twin Falls.
No link has been confirmed between the illnesses and the yogurt, but Ward said the FDA is working with Chobani to hasten its voluntary recall.
Chobani last week told grocery stores to destroy 35 varieties of yogurt reported to have been contaminated by a mold associated with dairy products. The affected yogurt cups have the code 16-012 and expiration dates between Sept. 11 and Oct. 7.
The company, which is based in the upstate New York town of New Berlin, emphasized last week that the mold that contaminated its products does not pose any serious threat.
"Mucor circinelloides is a species of mold commonly associated with fruits, vegetables and dairy that has been reported to cause spoilage like swelling and bloating in yogurt. It is not considered a disease-causing foodborne microorganism," Cornell University food science professor Randy Worobo said in a news release.
Greek yogurt in general has surged in popularity as well, with fans saying they prefer its thicker consistency and relatively higher protein content when compared with the sweeter yogurt varieties that have long been sold in American supermarkets.
The private company had an estimated $244 million in revenue in 2010, according to S&P Capital IQ.
Chobani says customers with the affected code dates should contact its customer service team at care@chobani.com to get replacement products.
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