Watch out: Granola bars recalled due to possible Listeria bacterium

A popular brand of granola bars has announced a recall after the company learned one of the ingredients may be contaminated with listeria.

The Quaker Oats Company, which is a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., announced a voluntary recall of a small quantity of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the company was informed that "an ingredient supplier was found to have distributed sunflower kernels that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (L.mono).

The FDA stated on its website that although there have been no reported illnesses as a result of the possible contamination, Quaker initiated the voluntary recall "in an abundance of caution to protect public health."

According to the FDA, listeria can cause serious, and sometimes fatal infections in children, elderly individuals and those who have weakened immune systems. Pregnant women infected with listeria could suffer miscarriages or stillbirth. Healthy individuals could suffer more mild, short-term symptoms ranging from fever and headaches to nausea, stiffness in the body, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Most of the granola bars that could contain the contaminated seeds never reached store shelves, the FDA said. Products being recalled, according to the FDA, include:

• 6.1 ounce boxes of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars Chocolate Nut Medley. The UPC code is 30000 32241 and Best Before Dates of: 10/16/2016, 10/17/2016.
• 6.1 ounce boxes of Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars Yogurt, Fruit & Nut. The UPC code is 30000 32243 and Best Before Dates of: 10/10/2016, 10/11/2016.

The FDA urges consumers who have purchased either of the above products to either throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased and request a full refund.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.