Oak Farms Dairy in Waco Conducts Voluntary Limited Recall of Half Gallon Plastic Bottles of Whole Chocolate Milk, Half Pint Paper Cartons of Whole Chocolate Milk, and Half Pint Paper Cartons of 1% Chocolate Milk Due to Presence of Alkaline Phosphatase in Samples

WACO, Texas, March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oak Farms Dairy plant in Waco is voluntarily recalling half gallon plastic bottles of whole chocolate milk, half pint paper cartons of whole chocolate milk, and half pint paper cartons of 1% chocolate milk due to the presence of Alkaline Phosphatase found in samples during routine testing. Oak Farms Dairy has received no reports of illnesses related to the affected product and is removing the product from the market out of an abundance of caution.

All packaging, regardless of size or type, is printed with a "BEST BY" or "SELL BY" date of March 22, 2011 (printed as MAR 22 on paper half pints, 03/22/11 on plastic half gallons) and a plant code of 48-3302.

Distribution of the affected product was limited in scope. Therefore, consumers should only be concerned with products carrying the following Individual Universal Product Codes (UPCs) and plant code 48-3302:

No other Oak Farms Dairy products are affected by this recall. In particular, this recall does not impact any Oak Farms Dairy products in Dallas or Houston.

The company initiated this voluntary recall because, in routine testing, samples of the affected product were found to contain Alkaline Phosphatase, an enzyme naturally present in raw milk, but not present in milk that has been sufficiently pasteurized. Records reflect – and subsequent testing confirms – that this issue was limited in scope to product processed during a two-hour window. The company has confirmed that all pasteurization equipment was performing to standard, and the Texas Department of State Health Services returned to the plant and found the pasteurizer, pressure differentials and flow rates operating normally. The cause of the positive test result is under investigation, and the company initiated the voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution.

The recall involves approximately 64,000 units of the affected product, which was distributed in Texas (San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Temple, Killeen, Hillsboro, Mexia, Wichita Falls, Lindale and Jacksonville) through numerous retail outlets, schools and food service settings. The company is actively notifying customers and is in the process of retrieving the affected product.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE RECALLED PRODUCT

This recall includes only half gallon plastic bottles of whole chocolate milk, half pint paper cartons of whole chocolate milk, and half pint paper cartons of 1% chocolate milk that carry the Oak Farms Dairy name and the plant code 48-3302. Packages are printed with a "BEST BY" or "SELL BY" date of March 22, 2011 (printed as MAR 22 on paper half pints, 03/22/11 on plastic half gallons) and a UPC code of 4127100724, 7002635006 or 7002635007. Only packages with the plant code 48-3302 are being recalled.

No other Oak Farms Dairy products are involved in this recall. In particular, this recall does not impact any Oak Farms Dairy products in Dallas or Houston.

Oak Farms Dairy has ceased distribution of the affected product and recovery is actively underway. Consumers who have this product should not consume it. They should discard it and may return the product package to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchange. Consumers with questions can contact the Company at 1-800-681-2249.  

Because the presence of Alkaline Phosphatase in milk suggests the milk may not have been pasteurized sufficiently, it is possible that pathogens present in the raw milk to begin with, including Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and/or E. coli, may have survived and, if ingested, could cause gastrointestinal infection and its potential ensuing complications.

The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Food and Drug Administration have been notified of this voluntary recall.

SOURCE Oak Farms Dairy