Kellogg issued a recall of 28 million boxes of Com Pops, Honey Smacks, Fruit Loops, and Apple Jacks cereals at the end of June. The company said that the recall occurred because Kellogg "identified a substance in the package liner that can produce an uncharacteristic waxy-like off-taste and smell."
It was reported that Kellogg destroyed tainted packaging before announcing the recall and that the source of the taste and smell was likely the chemical 2-methylnaphthalene, a chemical that has been shown in at least one study to cause lung injuries in adults.
In investigating the product recall, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is asking Kellogg’s to brief Committee staff on the company's activities to identify, address, and prevent hazardous chemicals, such as 2-methylnaphthalene, from getting into its products.
The Committee will also request a variety of documents from Kellogg’s, including all Kellogg's policies and procedures designed to ensure that its cereal and other food products do not pose a risk to human health, all documents relating to any assessments of the health risks posed by 2-methylnaphthalene conducted by, commissioned by, or requested by Kellogg’s, and all documents relating to Kellogg's investigation and subsequent recall of Com Pops, Honey Smacks, Fruit Loops, and Apple Jacks cereals, including any documents relating to the presence of 2-methylnaphthalene or any other chemicals in the cereals or in the cereals' packaging, any documents describing the cause, scope, and extent of the contamination, and any documents describing actions taken as a result of the company's investigation.
The Committee has asked that Kellogg’s produce the relevant information by August 16, 2010. You can read the original letter from the committee here.
Edited by Ellie Duncan
It was reported that Kellogg destroyed tainted packaging before announcing the recall and that the source of the taste and smell was likely the chemical 2-methylnaphthalene, a chemical that has been shown in at least one study to cause lung injuries in adults.
In investigating the product recall, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is asking Kellogg’s to brief Committee staff on the company's activities to identify, address, and prevent hazardous chemicals, such as 2-methylnaphthalene, from getting into its products.
The Committee will also request a variety of documents from Kellogg’s, including all Kellogg's policies and procedures designed to ensure that its cereal and other food products do not pose a risk to human health, all documents relating to any assessments of the health risks posed by 2-methylnaphthalene conducted by, commissioned by, or requested by Kellogg’s, and all documents relating to Kellogg's investigation and subsequent recall of Com Pops, Honey Smacks, Fruit Loops, and Apple Jacks cereals, including any documents relating to the presence of 2-methylnaphthalene or any other chemicals in the cereals or in the cereals' packaging, any documents describing the cause, scope, and extent of the contamination, and any documents describing actions taken as a result of the company's investigation.
The Committee has asked that Kellogg’s produce the relevant information by August 16, 2010. You can read the original letter from the committee here.
Edited by Ellie Duncan