FURTHER EXPANDED Recall Period of Certain Sunflower Kernel Products Due to Possible Contamination by Listeria monocytogenes

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acting out of an abundance of caution, SunOpta has decided to further expand its voluntary recall of certain sunflower kernel products due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

This further expanded recall includes certain sunflower kernel products originating from SunOpta’s facility in Crookston, Minn. between May 31, 2015 and January 31, 2016. No illnesses related to the consumption of these products have been have been confirmed.

Recalled retail sunflower kernel items were sold in clear printed plastic packages and are marked with Best By Dates located on the front or back of the packages. Recalled snack bars were sold in boxes of 12 units. Listed below are details regarding the recalled items:

Product Description	Size	UPC	Lot #	Best By Date
Sunrich Naturals Sunflower Kernels-Roasted and Salted	1 oz.	810304032122	34215231-34215233	19AUG16-21AUG16
			34215236-34215240	24AUG16-28AUG16
			34215295-34215296	22OCT16-23OCT16
			34215299-34215303	26OCT16-30OCT16
			34215306	02NOV16
			34215355-34215356	13DEC16-14DEC16
			34215362-34215365	28DEC16-31DEC16
			34216004-34216007	04JAN17-07JAN17
			34216011-34216015	11JAN17-15JAN17
			37215324	20NOV16
			37215327-37215329	23NOV16-25NOV16
			37215334-37215338	30NOV16-04DEC16
			37216020-37216022	20JAN17-22JAN17
			37216025-37216027	25JAN17-27JAN17
Sunrich Naturals Sunflower Kernels-Chili Lime	1 oz.	810304012148	34215155-34215156	04JUN16-05JUN16
			34215159-34215160	08JUN16-09JUN16
			34215166-34215167	15JUN16-16JUN16
	1.2 oz	810304032146	34215168	17JUN16
Sunrich Naturals Sunflower Kernels-Blazin’ Hot	1.2 oz.	810304032139	34215159-34215161	08JUN16-10JUN16
			34215170	19JUN16
			34215173-34215177	22JUN16-26JUN16
			34215180-34215181	29JUN16-30JUN16
Spitz Salted Sunflower Kernels (Only Available In Canada)	3.53 oz.	069579210005	07-09-16A2	07-09-16
	100 g		09-10-16C	09-10-16
			11-09-16C	11-09-16
			11-09-16B	11-09-16
			01-06-17C	01-06-17
			01-07-17B	01-07-17
Spitz Dill Pickle Sunflower Kernels (Only Available In Canada)	3.53 oz.	069579210012	07-09-16C2	07-09-16
	100 g		09-10-16B	09-10-16
			09-11-16A	09-11-16
			11-10-16C	11-10-16
			11-10-16B	11-10-16
			01-07-17A	01-07-17
Kar’s SunFlower Kernel Roasted and Salted	2 oz.	077034009897	08/31/15-09/03/15	08/31/16-09/03/16
			09/09/15-09/11/15	09/09/16-09/11/16
			09/14/15-09/15/15	09/14/16-09/15/16
Planters Sunflower Kernels	3 oz.	029000012714	6291B3, 6291C3, 6292A3, 6292B3, 6292C3, 6293A2, 6293A3, 6293C3, 6293C2, 6293B2, 6294A2, 6294A3, 6294C3, 6294C2, 6305A3, 6305C3, 6306B3, 6306A3, 6306C3, 6307B3, 6307A3, 6307C3, 6308B3, 6319C3, 6319B3, 6319A3, 6320C3, 6320B3, 6320A3, 6321C3, 6321B3, 6321A3, 6326B3, 6326A3, 6326C3, 6327B3, 6327A3, 6327C3, 6328B3, 6328A3, 6328C3, 6340C3, 6340B3, 6340A3, 6341C3, 6341B3, 6341A3, 6342C3, 6342B3, 6361C3, 6361B3, 6361A3, 6362C3, 6362B3, 6362A3, 6363C3, 6363B3	10/17/16-12/28/16
			7023A3, 7023B3, 7023C3, 7024A3, 7024B3, 7024C3, 7025A3, 7025B3, 7030A3, 7030B3, 7030C3, 7031A3, 7031B3, 7031C3, 7032A3, 7032C3, 7037A3, 7037B3, 7037C3, 7038A3, 7038B3, 7038C3, 7039A3, 7039B3, 7039C3	01/23/17-02/08/17
Navitas Naturals Superfood+ snack bars: Cacao Cranberry, Goji Acai, Hemp Peanut, Maca Maple		Cacao Cranberry-811961020262	0476	MAR2017
		Goji Acai-811961020286	0476	MAR2017
		Hemp Peanut-811961020309	0466	MAR2017
		Maca Maple-811961020248	0466	MAR2017

Recalled products were distributed to distribution centers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Canada and may be redistributed to other states.

Consumers are urged not to consume these products. Consumers who purchased these products may take them back to the store where they purchased them for a refund or simply discard them. Consumers seeking information may email [e-mail] or call 1-888-886-4428 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Retailers and wholesale customers should check their inventories and shelves to confirm that none of the recalled products are present or available for purchase by consumers or in warehouse inventories. Please contact SunOpta at [e-mail] to arrange for disposal or return of the product.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“SunOpta is fully committed to ensuring the safety of consumers and integrity of the products we make for our customers,” said Rik Jacobs, SunOpta President and CEO. “In an abundance of caution, we are expanding the recall period to include sunflower kernel products originating from our Crookston facility that have any potential to be contaminated.

“We have put into place corrective and preventative actions to ensure the safety, quality and integrity of the consumer goods and ingredients we manufacture,” Jacobs added. “We have resumed production of roasted sunflower kernel products at our facility in Crookston after conducting a comprehensive review of our manufacturing processes. We have also enhanced our active testing activities prior to all customer shipments.”

About SunOpta

SunOpta Inc. is a leading global company focused on organic, non-genetically modified ("non-GMO") and specialty foods. SunOpta specializes in the sourcing, processing and packaging of organic and non-GMO food products, integrated from seed through packaged products; with a focus on strategic vertically integrated business models. SunOpta's organic and non-GMO food operations revolve around value-added grain, seed, fruit and vegetable based product offerings, supported by a global sourcing and supply infrastructure.