FDA Update on Cereal Recalls

As we recently reported here, this summer the Kellogg Company voluntarily recalled boxes of its Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Froot Loops, and Apple Jacks due to “an off-flavor and odor” emanating from the cereal. We can’t believe that Toucan Sam, who always seems to be bragging about his nose, missed those foul-smelling boxes.

The FDA recently provided an update on the recall, explaining that the culprit causing the bad smell and taste appeared to be the wax paper liners in the boxes. According to the FDA, only about 50 reports of the foul smell were reported, and no one sustained a serious injury. One of the question-and-answer notes in the update caught our eye:

Are Waxed Papers Legal and Safe to Use in Food Packaging?
Yes, but only when they are manufactured and used in compliance with Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act requirements and FDA regulations.

It comes as a reminder that the FDA does not only regulate the food on our shelves, but also its packaging, known in government-speak as “Food Contact Substances.” Other items with which you may be familiar in terms of the regulation of packaging that comes into contact with food include the debate that rages concerning the level of Bisphenol A, also known as “BPA,” in plastic containers and baby bottles.

More information about the regulation can be found on the FDA website page devoted to the wide world of packaging. In the meantime, we can apparently eat our favorite sugary cereal without first subjecting it to the smell test.

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