Organic toasted soy grits used as granola bar ingredients led to two recalls over the weekend by two different California companies.

The El Segundo-based Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market recalled its Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars and Irwindale-based Lovin Oven LLC recalled its Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch, Dutch Apple, and Wildberry Chewy Granola Bars.

granola-bar-featured.jpgThe recalled granola bars may be contaminated with Salmonella contained in soy products from the Thumb Oilseed Producers’ Cooperative, a soybean processing facility located in Ubly, MI.  It produces a high energy soy product that  has also been recalled.

The Salmonella organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in children, the frail and elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.  Symptoms include fever, diarrhea including bloody diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting and abdominal pain.

The only Fresh & Easy product recalled is the Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars with a barcode of 5051379001377 for all date codes.  Fresh & Easy Market stores in California, Nevada, and Arizona sell the bars.

Fresh & Easy says its customers may return unused product, empty product containers  or receipts as proof of purchase for full refunds.  Consumers with questions may call Fresh & Easy at a 24-hour toll free number, which is 1-800-648-8622.

Lovin Oven distributes the recalled Peanut Crunch, Dutch Apple and Wildberry chewy granola bars nationally. The lots affected are:

6.1oz HV ORG PEANUT CRUNCH
07DEC09H2

15JAN10H2

23FEB10H2

28FEB10H2

28MAR10H2

29MAR10H1

13APR10H1

06SEP10H2

06NOV10H2

09FEB10H2

6.1oz HV ORG DUTCH APPLE
03JAN10H1

05FEB10H2

05FEB10H2

28MAR10H2

17AUG10H1

6.1oz HV ORG WILDBERRY
05JAN10H2

15JAN10H1

12APR10H1

06JUL10H1

08MAR10H1

The product description and SKU numbers (found on the bottom and used to scan at checkout):

Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars, 6.1 oz box  
# 0-35742-15483-4

Health Valley Organic Dutch Apple Chewy Granola Bars, 6.1oz box       
# 0-35742-15482-7

Health Valley Organic Wildberry Chewy Granola Bars, 6.1oz box           
# 0-35742-15481-0