More Than 300,000 Cereal and Snack Packages Are Being Recalled Due to Metal Concerns

Kenn Bivins
Kenn Bivins
Kenn is a certified foodie, dog dad, and one-half of the epic romantic duo dubbed, “The Kenn’s” <3. In his free time, you can find him obsessing over how pancakes bubble as they cook, geeking out about the Maillard reaction and making focaccia from scratch.
published Mar 23, 2023
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February 26, 2020: The cereal, coffee and tea aisle at a Publix grocery store in Orlando, Florida
Credit: Joni Hanebutt/Shutterstock

If there’s anything you should know about me, I love cereal (a little too much, but that’s beside the point). That being said, infatuation can be short-lived when you discover that your favorite no-effort breakfast and before-bedtime snack might include a few extra and unwelcomed ingredients. Case in point: the ongoing cereal recall brought forth by Lebanon, Indiana-based brand, Catalina Snacks Inc. 

Initially announced in February, the recall for the brand — which produces low-carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly snacks free of artificial ingredients and sugar — includes more than 300,000 cereal and snack packages due to possible metal contamination. Items under the Catalina Crunch brand that are impacted range from cereal products to snack mixes in various flavors. Tainted products were distributed online and in New York, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oregon, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Virginia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. The products in question are as follows:

  • Catalina Crunch Fruit-flavored ready-to-eat cereal, 1.27-ounce package, UPC 850017468214, Best By Date 8/1/2023
  • Catalina Crunch Fruit-flavored ready-to-eat cereal, 8-ounce package, UPC 850017468085, Best By Date 8/1/2023
  • Catalina Crunch Chocolate Peanut Butter flavored ready-to-eat cereal, 9-ounce package, UPC 850017468184, Best By Date 8/1/2023 and 8/8/2023.
  • Catalina Crunch Honey Graham flavored ready-to-eat cereal, 9-ounce package, UPC 860479001553, Best By Date 7/25/2023
  • Catalina Crunch Maple Waffle flavored ready-to-eat cereal, 9-ounce package, UPC 860479001539, Best By Dates 7/25/2023 and 8/15/2023.
  • Catalina Crunch Cheddar flavored ready-to-eat snack mix, 6-ounce package, UPC 850017468160, Best By Date 2/15/2023 and 2/22/2023.
  • Catalina Crunch Creamy Ranch flavored ready-to-eat snack mix, 6-ounce package, UPC 850017468160, Best By Date 2/15/2023
  • Catalina Crunch Spicy Kick flavored ready-to-eat snack mix, 6-ounce package, UPC 850017468153, Best By Date 2/22/2023

No personal injuries have been reported due to the contaminated food, but customers are urged to discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of heavy metal poisoning, contact your local poison control center immediately. 

This news comes amid several food recalls in the past few weeks, including frozen strawberries, multiple home products, oysters, and even the beloved Starbucks Frappuccino. 

If you’re still looking to get your cereal on though, there are still a slew of options available, like the TikTok famous coffee cereal, OffLimits, and Magic Spoon — which both promise to inject some fun back into your daily breakfast or any time of day snack. 

Wondering what other recalls and public health alerts have been issued lately from your favorite brands? Check out this page that’s updated regularly to stay in the know.