Chewy cookie bars designed for toddlers recalled over choking hazard

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is urging parents to not give a brand of soft-baked bars to toddlers because they could create a potentially fatal choking hazard.

Big picture view:

The FDA says all flavors, quantities, and varieties of Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars are under the recall. 

The FDA received several reports of toddlers experiencing a complete airway obstruction after they ate the bars.

The company issued a statement Friday, saying it was voluntarily recalling the product after it three customer complaints. 

This product is sold nationwide online and at stores, including Costco, Target, and Walmart. This product may be sold elsewhere, such as Amazon.com and other third-party vendors.

What they're saying:

"When chewed, the product reportedly forms a dry, sticky mass that standard choking interventions — including back blows and the Heimlich maneuver — may fail to dislodge," the FDA’s website states. 

The agency said some of the reported choking incidents required emergency intervention and hospital observation.

The statement from Once Upon a Farm stated that the company was working with the FDA to make sure affected products are removed and families have the information they need. 

"We know that parents place their trust in us every time they buy one of our products. We fell short of that, and that is why we are taking these aggressive actions," the statement read.

Dig deeper:

The recalled products include: 

• Apple, Sweet Potato, & Spinach Tractor Wheels 
• Strawberry, Pumpkin, & Beet Tractor Wheels
• Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower Tractor Wheels

All lot codes and expiration dates are included within the recall, the FDA said. 

What you can do:

If you’ve purchased the Tractor Wheels soft-baked bars, do not use the product, the company advises. Instead, return the product to the store you purchased from for a full refund or contact [email protected].

The Source: Information for this story came from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Once Upon a Farm's statement.