JEM Raw Chocolate LLC Voluntarily Recalls Nut Butter Spread Products Due To Possible Health Risk
Consumers: JEM Raw Chocolate, LLC
(541) 728-3844
JEM Raw Chocolate, LLC (JEM Raw) of Bend, Oregon announced a voluntary recall of its full line of all nut butter spreads within expiry because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Health authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Center for Disease Control (CDC) have linked the illnesses to person(s) who have consumed nut spreads, including JEM Raw products. There have been eleven (11) illnesses reported but no deaths or hospitalizations to date.
In light of this investigation, and with an abundance of caution, JEM Raw has initiated a voluntary recall of all products and sizes, packaged in glass jars, and sold under brand name JEM Raw Organics.
The following products are recalled:
Product NameNet Weight (oz.)UPCCashew Cardamom – Sprouted Cashew Almond Spread16 09728 97861 7Cinnamon Red Maca – Sprouted Almond Spread16 09728 97862 4Hazelnut Raw Cacao – Sprouted Hazelnut Spread16 09728 97865 5Superberry Maqui Camu – Sprouted Almond Spread16 09728 97864 8Cashew Cardamom – Sprouted Cashew Almond Spread66 09728 97860 0Cinnamon Red Maca – Sprouted Almond Spread66 09728 97848 8Hazelnut Raw Cacao -Sprouted Hazelnut Spread66 09728 97857 0Superberry Maqui Camu – Sprouted Almond Spread66 09728 97858 7Cashew Cardamom – Sprouted Cashew Almond Spread166 09728 97854 9Cinnamon Red Maca – Sprouted Almond Spread166 09728 97850 1Hazelnut Raw Cacao – Sprouted Hazelnut Spread166 09728 97851 8Superberry Maqui Camu – Sprouted Almond Spread166 09728 97852 5
The JEM Raw recalled products were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail order. Products are distributed between June 2015 and November 2015.
JEM Raw is working with distributors and retailers to remove these products from retail shelves. Consumers do not need to return the product to the store where it was purchased. Instead, consumers should discard any product and its container. JEM Raw will work directly with each consumer to manage replacement of its product.
Additional details can be found atwww.jemraw.com. Those with questions may contact JEM Raw Chocolate, LLC at (541) 728-3844 between 9am 4pm PST, Monday through Friday.
Jen Moore, co-founder and CEO, said, “We are taking these steps because consumer safety is our top priority. As a health food company, our customer’s health is our number one priority. Although no JEM Raw products have tested positive for Salmonella, we feel strongly that issuing a voluntary recall is the right thing to do. JEM is working closely with the FDA, ODA, and OHA to determine the root cause of the outbreak.”