Squeezable baby food pouches mold

Mold in Baby Food Pouches?

Claim

Photograph shows mold discovered in an Aldi baby food pouch.

Rating

Unknown

Like this fact check?

Reporting

On January 31 2019, the Facebook page “Mommin’ Over Everything” shared what appears to be a screenshot of a social media post showing mold purportedly found in Aldi Simply Natural baby food pouches:

Another version published on the same date by the Facebook page “Motherly Empire” received around 200,000 shares in the same timeframe.

Alongside three photographs of mold in a pouch of Simply Natural baby food, the screenshot of an unspecified post read:

Well I thought it would never happen to me BUT……no more pouches for Jade! She just got a mouth full of mold! (From Aldi in WS) *updated- expiration date on this was 12/2019*

Although the screenshot included an expiration date for the item, the original post was not linked and the age of the original claim was not known. Due to the story’s prominence across “mom” pages on Facebook, a number of commenters shared versions of the claim to Aldi USA’s Facebook page, but we were unable to locate any comment on this exact rumor.

Claims about mold in Aldi baby food pouches (or pouches of pureed food in general) were similar to long-circulating rumors about mold purportedly found in pouches of Capri Sun juices. In October 2018, a popular Facebook post about mold in Capri Sun pouches led to testing by the company, which subsequently found minute punctures in the drink packaging:

“A third party company came to the house to pick up the ‘sample’ & package the following day, then sent it to the lab for testing … They came back with the results a few days later and said there was a “micro-puncture” in the package allowing oxygen to enter the pouch and create the mold seen in the video/pictures.”
Are Fetal Cells Ingredients in Food...
Please enable JavaScript
Are Fetal Cells Ingredients in Food and Drinks?
Which is pretty much Capri Sun’s FAQ answer to the question of “Will the mold make my child sick?”
“We’re so sorry you encountered mold! It’s unpleasant, but it’s unlikely to make you or your child sick. Although it’s rare, it is possible for food mold to grow inside containers of preservative-free juice drinks if the pouch is compromised or punctured in any way on its journey from our facilities to your grocery stores. Even if the hole is microscopic and not visibly detectable, it can be exposed to air.”

As the company noted, mold can grow in sealed, perishable food and drinks if the packaging is punctured at any time after production. In a separate FAQ response, Capri Sun’s FAQ explains:

Imagine leaving a piece of fruit like an apple or a strawberry on your counter. After time exposed to the air, mold will grow. Although it’s rare, it is possible for food mold to grow inside containers of preservative-free juice drinks if the pouch is compromised or punctured in any way on its journey from our facilities to your grocery stores. Even if the hole is microscopic and not visibly detectable, it can be exposed to air. The mold is naturally-occurring, and we understand it’s unpleasant.

Although those answers specifically had to do with Capri Sun drinks, they also described the possibility that organic matter in pouches (versus glass jars or cans) could be contaminated in a less detectable manner throughout the supply chain. While small punctures in a pouch could go unnoticed, fruit and vegetable purees in glass jars were likelier to present with a broken seal or other obvious signal of contamination.

Aldi’s Simply Natural line was the subject of a similar finding of mold in its pouches in March 2017 in Missouri:

Other brands, including Plum organics, have dealt with mold issues before.
“When you twist it, it’s locked. It’s completely locked, that it hasn’t been opened prior. I also would squeeze to make sure there’s air,” Garrett said in advising parents on how to check pouches at home.
[Dietitian Tylane] Garrett said parents should do what they can to safeguard their kids. She said, however, there could be problems in manufacturing, transit, or in the store itself before the purchase is made … The local Aldi store manager told KY3 the store had not received any pouches from the supplier in the last three days. The pouches are not available at the store on Battlefield Road at Jefferson Avenue.
[In March 2017], Aldi issued this statement:
“ALDI takes the safety and integrity of the products we sell very seriously and our Little Journey baby line is no exception.
“Our Little Journey Organic Food Puree pouches are USDA certified organic and contain no artificial preservatives. While extremely rare, if a pouch is punctured and exposed to air, mold can grow. It was brought to our attention that this occurred with pouches that were available for purchase at our Springfield store located at 421 E. Battlefield. Out of an abundance of caution, we have removed all Little Journey Organic Food Puree pouches from our store shelves in the Springfield area.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern this situation may have caused. If a customer has any concerns about this product, we encourage them to visit their local Springfield ALDI store and we’ll gladly refund the purchase price of the Little Journey Organic Food Puree pouches. ”

Once again, Aldi was not the only manufacturer to contend with mold complaints relating to pouch-based baby food. A consumer reports site featured a number of posts about mold in Gerber brand baby food pouches. In 2016, the Detroit Free Press reported that all baby food in pouches is vulnerable to mold growth. In 2014, a similarly viral claim involved mold in GoGo Squeeze applesauce, a complaint that arose about Mott’s in March 2017.

The circumstances under which the baby food pouch in the photographs was contaminated were not clear. However, the vulnerability of food packaged in that manner (squeeze pouches) has been well covered as a food safety issue. On occasion, pureed baby food and drinks sold in pouches developed mold due to very small punctures in the packaging. The risk is legitimate, but the circumstances of these photographs are still unknown.

Mom warns parents about food pouches after claims of discovering ‘mold’ causing her baby to get really sick

A MOM shared a warning with her fellow parents when she allegedly discovered mold inside her baby's food pouch.

This is certainly not the first time a devastated parent has used social media to share such warnings.

A mom discovered mold inside her baby's food pouch

The mold had been at the bottom, which she had not seen when she purchased it

A mom took to social media to claim her baby had gotten sick after eating from a Gerber baby food pouch.

As she showed off the allegedly moldy product, she alleged: "Warning! My first time buying these and my baby threw up nine times after eating a little over a half.

"We then noticed no expiration date and then this leaf/mold was stuck at the bottom."

The devoted mom had not seen the pouch had mold inside when she purchased it - she only found it after her baby had gotten sick.

The specific pouch was meant to be banana mango, and although it was a yellow mush, it was speckled with black chunks.

The Sun has reached out to Gerber for comment but didn't receive any at the time of publication.

Most read in Lifestyle

FREEZE FRAME

I’m a Hooters girl and went snowboarding in my uniform - my ‘hoots’ were cold

KEEP IT CLASSY

I’m a teacher - men say 'more dads will come to parents’ night'

GYM WIN

I'm a 'gym rat' - people's 'eyes fall out of their face' when I turn around

IN A FLASH

I am completely anti bra - I loved it until a rollercoaster led to a NSFW moment

When someone asked her in the comment section if her baby was better, she responded: "Doctor said just to keep her hydrated.

"She’s still sick at 2 am and her sister who just had one taste of it is now sick as well. But hopefully better soon!"

To further prove the mom's claims, a follower told her: "My kid literally just ate the same one today but it did not look like that."

A second mom claimed: "My daughter got salmonella from these.

"She almost died, was in the children’s hospital for a little over a week when she was little over a year old."

And a third alleged: "My baby girl got SO sick feeding her Gerber, we had to go to ER.

"We switched to HappyBaby Organics and haven’t had an issue since."

And a fourth mom suggested: "Always squish around to mix. If possible, take a taste of anything prepackaged to make sure it's safe before feeding."

This is not the first time a mom has claimed to have found mold inside her kid's baby food pouch.

Back in July 2021, Jessica Carter showed the moment after she had opened a new pouch of Beech Nuts veggies and mold "shot" out of it, landing on the counter.

A massive build-up of mold had taken the shape of the straw as it laid on the horrifying mess.

"Just a friendly PSA to check your pouches before you give them to your kids," the worried mom said in the video.

"This is MOLD that shot out of this one and it's definitely still in date."

The pouch had been stamped to expire in December 2021 and the video had been published in June.

Along with the video, the mom of two boys publicly shamed the baby food brand and wrote: "Do better."

She claimed her baby had gotten sick after ingesting it90,000 Food and basic necessities for refugees are collected at the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent until April 10 - what to bring?

Moscow

04/05/2022 Ilya AGAFONOV

1,560

With the blessing of Metropolitan Theognost of Kashira, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, aid is being collected for refugees in all stauropegial monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow said.

Until April 10, the monastery itself will accept food, hygiene products and other essentials for refugees and civilians on the territory of the republics of Donbass and Ukraine. Donations can also be ordered with delivery to the address of the monastery. The contacts required for this, and the hours of receiving assistance are published at the link.

“Food, hygiene products and other essential items will be accepted strictly in accordance with the attached list (see below) and of proper quality (intact and not expired). Please note that clothing will not be accepted. - said the organizers of the meeting.

List of necessary goods for the formation of humanitarian cargo *

Food for children (shelf life - a month or more)

Baby food in jars (fruit, meat, vegetable)
Baby purees in plastic bags with a lid: fruit, cottage cheese, etc.
Children's cereals
Bars (nuts, cereals, etc.)
Juice (in cartons)
Hematogen
Infant formula (0 months to 1. 5 years)
Baby bottles
Adult food

Instant noodles, soup and cereals water, juice)
Bread, crackers, dryers, biscuits
Bread for diabetics
Cereals (rice, buckwheat, semolina)
Macaroni
Powdered milk
Dry potato
Egg powder
Sunflower oil
Melted butter
Canned food (meat, fish)
Canned peas
Canned corn
Milk (pasteurized, in cartons)
Sauces and jams in portion packs
Jam, jam (soft packs)
Sugar
Tea bags
Coffee 3 in 1 ( in bags)
Chocolate, sweets
Nuts, dried fruits
Sanitary and hygiene products:

Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Hair shampoo
Hair balm
Solid and liquid soap
Toilet paper
Paper and wet wipes
Paper towels (disposable)
Paper handkerchiefs (disposable)
Hand cream
Laundry soap
Cotton wool, cotton pads
Sanitary pads, tampons
Special hygiene products for the postpartum period
Antiseptic hand spray cleansing, leave-in
Shavers
Ear sticks
Laundry detergent
Soda
Baby care products:

Diapers
Disposable diapers

Source: Website of the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy.

Earlier, a single church center for collecting humanitarian aid for refugees and civilians in the conflict zone was opened in Moscow. It is open daily at the address: Moscow, Nikoloyamskaya street, 49, building 3. Help is available daily from 10.00 to 19.00. Phones 8-499-340-77-17, 8-968-443-79-40. They accept new clothes and shoes, new school uniforms, durable products, hygiene products, household chemicals, diapers, baby food.

You can also support refugees and affected civilians by sending an SMS to 3443 with the word "Refugees" and the amount of the donation (for example, "Refugees 300").

Is it important for you to continue the conversation on this topic? Support the portal!

We ask you to sign up for a small but regular payment to our site. Mercy.ru works thanks to the voluntary donations of our readers. Funds are needed for business trips, filming, salaries of editors, journalists and technical support of the site.

Help the portal

Tetra Pak helped restart domestic packaging production

https://ria. ru/20230123/tetra-1846673928.html

Tetra Pak helped restart domestic packaging production

Tetra Pak helped restart domestic packaging production News, 01/23/2023

Tetra Pak helped to restart the domestic production of packaging

The Russian division of the Swedish company Tetra Pak takes part in the production of packaging, helping to restart the domestic production, said in... RIA Novosti, 01/23/2023

2023-01-23T03: 34

2023-01-23T11: 44

Economics

Technologies

Victoria Abramchenko

Moscow Region

TETRA TETRA pak

Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia)

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content

/html/head/meta[@name='og:description' ]/@content

https://cdnn21.img.ria.ru/images/07e6/05/17/17

636_0:185:3031:1891_1920x0_80_0_0_74922bb8d6c7c31721b0ff26d885753c.jpg

MOSCOW, January 23 - RIA Novosti. The Russian division of the Swedish company Tetra Pak takes part in the production of packaging, helping to restart domestic production, Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko said in an interview with RIA Novosti. The Russian authorities have repeatedly spoken about problems with the packaging of food manufacturers, including in connection with the increase in prices for it. The problem has aggravated due to the departure or change of the format of presence in the Russian market of the largest foreign packaging manufacturers - the Norwegian company Elopak (Pure-Pak brand), Tetra Pak, and the American Ball Corporation. In particular, in March, dairy enterprises notified the Ministry of Industry and Trade of possible supply disruptions due to a shortage of packaging made from imported materials. "Tetra Pak, its Russian division, to be more precise, is taking part in this experiment, they behave very complementary, help to find all the necessary solutions. Back in June it was really an experiment, but now it is already the industrial use of cardboard as the basis for packaging for children nutrition — 200 milliliter packages for juices and dairy products," Abramchenko said in response to a question about the stage at which the first experiments on the production of domestic packaging are now. According to the vice-premier, the work has been set up, but a number of other issues have come to light in parallel. So, for example, tea and coffee manufacturers need filter paper, tea bag strings, canned food manufacturers need rings for cans, and so on. In July parent company Tetra Pak announced that it could no longer continue to support its operations in Russia and was transferring its Russian division to local management. It was clarified that the name of the Russian division would later be changed and the company would continue to work as an independent organization, focusing on the production of packaging material at its plant in the Moscow region. Read the full text of the interview with Victoria Abramchenko >>

https://ria.ru/20230122/EKSPORT-1846657520.html

https://ria.ru/20230122/sdelka-184654872.html

Russia

Moscow region (suburbs)

RIA Novosti

4.7

9000

[email protected]

7 495 645-6601

FSUE MIA today

https: //xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og. xn--p1aii/ awards/

2023

RIA Novosti

4.7

9000

[email protected]

7 495 645-6601

FSUE MIA today

https: //xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn-p1ai /awards/

News

ru-RU

https://ria.ru/docs/about/copyright.html

https://xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn--p1ai/

RIA Novosti

4.7

[email protected]

7 495 645-6601

Rossiya Segodnya

https://xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn--p1ai/awards/03

4.7

9000

[email protected]

7 495 645-6601

FSUE MIA today

https: //xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn-p1ai /awards/

economics, technology, victoria abramchenko, russia, moscow region (Moscow region), tetra pak, ministry of industry and trade of the russian federation (minpromtorg of russia)

Economics, Technology, Victoria Abramchenko, Russia, Moscow region (Moscow region), Tetra Pak, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia)

MOSCOW, January 23 - RIA Novosti. The Russian division of the Swedish company Tetra Pak takes part in the production of packaging, helping to restart domestic production, Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The Russian authorities have repeatedly spoken about the problems with the packaging of food manufacturers, including in connection with the increase in prices for it. The problem has aggravated due to the departure or change of the format of presence in the Russian market of the largest foreign packaging manufacturers - the Norwegian company Elopak (Pure-Pak brand), Tetra Pak, and the American Ball Corporation. In particular, in March, dairy enterprises notified the Ministry of Industry and Trade of possible supply disruptions due to a shortage of packaging made from imported materials.

January 22, 22:40Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia

Belarus spoke about the transition to logistics routes through Russia

"Tetra Pak, its Russian division, to be more precise, is taking part in this experiment, they behave very complementary, help to find all the necessary solutions. Back in June it was really an experiment, but now it is already industrial use of cardboard as the basis for packaging for baby food - packaging of 200 milliliters for juices and dairy products," Abramchenko said in response to a question about what stage is now the first experiments on the production of domestic packaging.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the work has been set up, but a number of other issues have come to light in parallel. So, for example, tea and coffee manufacturers need filter paper, tea bag strings, canned food manufacturers need rings for cans, and so on.

"It is important to bring food producers and manufacturers of related materials and packaging into a single chain. <...> Colleagues from the relevant departments are now compiling roadmaps for each area to make it easier to solve problems either through parallel imports or through supplies from friendly countries, or through production within the country, if it is cost-effective to create new production due to the capacity of the domestic market," Abramchenko concluded.