FDA Warns Against Once Upon a Farm Toddler Bars After Choking Reports

The US Food and Drug Administration advised parents not to purchase or serve Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars after receiving reports that young children could not breathe after eating them. The agency posted its warning on Oct. 30 and said it informed the company about the adverse event reports, and the company agreed to begin a recall.

According to the FDA, the reported episodes involved children aged 18 to 30 months who could not breathe after eating the bars. The agency said chewing turns the bars into a dry, sticky clump that may resist back blows and the Heimlich maneuver. Yahoo News reported that some of the incidents required emergency response and hospital observation. The FDA did not state how many reports it had received, but Yahoo News said the agency had received several. The New York Times described the bars as containing whole grain oats and sweetened with fruits and vegetables.

The company said it based the recall on three consumer complaints and called the move precautionary. The FDA advisory applied to every flavor, package size and lot, with no expiration date excluded. The affected varieties included Apple, Sweet Potato and Spinach; Strawberry, Pumpkin and Beet; and Banana, Pumpkin and Cauliflower. The bars are sold online and at retailers nationwide, including Costco, Target and Walmart, and may also be available on Amazon and from other third-party sellers. The company said the bars were distributed in numerous states and Puerto Rico, and that no other Once Upon a Farm products are involved.

Yahoo News said the recall was announced the same day as the FDA advisory, Oct. 30, while The New York Times reported that it was not immediately clear when the recall began. Once Upon a Farm said it had formed a partnership with the FDA to locate and remove affected products and is reformulating the bars to improve safety and quality. In a statement cited by The New York Times, the company said it was "reformulating these family favorites to ensure they adhere to the highest standards".

The FDA told consumers to discard the bars right away and told retailers to stop selling them. The company instead asked customers to keep the package unopened and return it to the store for a full refund; customers can reach the company at care@uponafarm.com. Consumers may also file a complaint through the FDA's consumer assistance page, and the agency said to call 911 if first aid does not clear a choking child's airway.

The sources did not report any deaths. The advisory does not cover other Once Upon a Farm products.