Slim-Fast Recalls Ten Million Cans

Posted on Dec 7th 2009 4:00PM by Deborah Dunham

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

New Year's resolution dieting is just around the corner, but unfortunately for Unilever, consumers looking to drop a few pounds will not be doing so with Slim-Fast. The global diet drink manufacturer has announced a voluntary recall of all canned Slim-Fast shakes due to a possible bacterial contamination.

Although the company says the chances are "remote," Unilever is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to urge people nationwide not to consume its ready-to-drink cans because of a potential contamination with Bacillus cereus, a micro-organism, which may cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

FDA spokeswoman, Rita Chappelle, issued a statement saying the recall affects ten million cans distributed in the United States. The recall applies to all Slim-Fast drinks, regardless of flavor, best-by date, lot code or UPC number. Individually sold Slim-Fast cans as well as those sold in packages of four, six or 12 should all be discarded. No other Slim-Fast products are affected by this recall, including their powdered shakes, meal bars or snack bars.
While Unilever is still in the process of identifying and correcting the production problem that led to the contamination, this is not the first recall Slim-Fast has had. In February of this year, three Slim-Fast bar products were recalled because of possible salmonella-contaminated peanuts. Certain shakes were also recalled in 2000 due to the risk for gastrointestinal illness.

The FDA is currently investigating the company's production facility in Covington, Tennessee. All consumers who have purchased Slim-Fast ready-to-drink canned products are urged to dispose of them immediately and contact the company at 1-800-896-9479 for a full refund.

Wondering if any liquid diets are safe? Take a look at this review.

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Tags: diet drink, diet shake, product recall, slim-fast, slim-fast recall

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Betty Carner 12-14-2009 @ 8:02AM

I have been using Slim Fast for years.(at least five if not more). I need my Slim Fast back. It gives me the energy I need and helps keep my weight down. So how soon can we expect this back? Please the generic is ok but not MY SLIM FAST
Thank you
Betty

Kathy 12-14-2009 @ 10:48AM

My husband and I drink these 3 days/week! We don't want to get sick, but we hate to throw out our 3 cases of chocolate and vanilla. How soon can we start back on them?

Susan Garrick 12-19-2009 @ 9:04AM

I travel for my work and a can of Slim Fast has been my livesaver for years, not for dieting purposes,but because the Optima has enough protein to get me to lunch! So, I bought 8 6-packs 6 weeks ago and am still working on that stock, and have decided to finish these off. If this contamination was just discovered, mine were "long stocked". Any comments?

Mary Kirby 12-18-2009 @ 8:09AM

I have been using Slim-fast ready mix drinks for 5 years and they are wonderful. I have lost a lot of weight using their drinks. I do not go to the extreme that some people will. You need to follow the plan to the letter and it will help you lose weight.

When will I be able to buy Slim-Fast ready made shakes again. I buy Regular Chocolare Royale 6 pack every week along with two packs of Chocolate Low Carb. This usually lasts a week, along with low carb ice cream. If no one has tried the low carb ice cream they should. It is definately better than the regular ice cream.

Not meaning to get off track - I need my slif fast back!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was working until you took it away from me. I had no bad side effects from it.

yvonne 12-17-2009 @ 8:50PM

i use slim fast drink low carb for several years for lunch and dinner when will i be able to buy again??

SANDY KAHN 12-28-2009 @ 12:46PM

Still waiting for the refund. on my two boxes

breah davis 1-18-2010 @ 12:59AM

HELLO,I WAS A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT MY REFUND WITH THE RECALL AND AND ALL,I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAVE RECEIVED THERE REFUND AND WHEN?PLEASE RESPOND.THANK YOU.

Ernestine Pittman 2-07-2010 @ 1:54AM

Did you get a refund from slimfast yet? I am still waiting for my refund.

marie elaina 12-28-2009 @ 8:30PM

I HAVE BEEN DRINKING SLIM FAST FOR YEARS I DRANK CAPPUCCINO. I LOVE COFFEE IT WAS EASY TO TAKE TO SCHOOL. WALK AROUND WITH A CAN AND STRAW, NOT TO WORRY OF BURNING MYSELF WITH HOT COFFEE, PLUS IT FILLED ME UP. HOWEVER I WAS SO SICK. I THOUGHT IT WAS A STOMACH FLU, IT WAS BACTERIA I WAS SO SICK. I MISSED CHRISTMAS. NOW TO FIND OUT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND THAT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME . I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING SAFE TO DRINK.

brenda 1-04-2010 @ 4:11PM

I we (my husband and I) use the slim fast products for years, I did get sick and stop drinking it( I was sure it was the slim fast at that time) , but later contunie using it, however we have disgarded all of this product,we hated to throw out our 3 cases of slim fast. How soon can we start back on them?

George 1-12-2010 @ 1:18PM

When will Slimfast be back on the market?

One Pi$$ed Off CWB 1-18-2010 @ 3:13AM

I was drinking the Cappuccinno flavor for awhile and was buying 6 packs drinking at least one can a day, but they made me feel so sick. Now I find out there's a recall because of the bacteria. I'm pissed. This is a way more serious issue than just getting a refund. Especially since they have a history of contaminations. They need to be shut down. I love the way they taste and all, but this is BS.

Margaret White 1-18-2010 @ 12:45PM

When will I be able to purchase Slim
Fast again?
Thanks,

Margaret

diana 1-22-2010 @ 10:46PM

I have been using slim fast for 2 years since my lapband surgery. It is actually the only thing that really satisfies me. I literally don't know what I will do without it!

Charlotte M 1-25-2010 @ 9:48AM

I have used Slim Fast, off and on, for years. It is the only product I have used that works for both my appetite and gastrointestinal system. How soon can we look forward to being able to buy cans of the diet drink again? By the way, I did not throw away the product I had on hand. I used it until I ran out. I had no problem with the product.

SL 1-25-2010 @ 10:24AM

Unfortunately this does it for me with Slim Fast. I have been using Slim Fast off and on for over 10 years. I did go ahead and discard of the 4 cases I had left because of this recall but what bothers me is that the recall information was not as publicly announced as it should have been. I had already gone through one case and now wonder if that could have been the casue of my illness. I was sick off and on in October and the whole month of November with what I thought was flu symptons and lots of diarrhea. I went to the doctor three times. I was also affected by the 2000 recall!

Mary V 2-01-2010 @ 7:00AM

WHEN IS YOUR PRODUCT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AGAIN?? HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN?? TOO LONG!

bebe 2-02-2010 @ 4:05PM

My husband and I have been using the slim fast cans for lunch for over ten years. No problems and so convenient. Now I am having trouble finding the powder that we have switched to in our local stores. Hope things are back to normal soon.Bebe

Pauline C.Williams 2-06-2010 @ 11:05AM

When there was a recall I made the phone call and said I had 10 cans. I have received a check for $1.70
I called again and have not heard anything for several weeks.
Don't think $1.70 covers the cost of the 10 cans I dumped out.
Would like to know if I will get paid for the other cans. This check hardly even covers one can.
I have used Slim Fast for years without any problems but since the recall I did pour out 10 cans so would like to be reimbursed for that.
Thank you

Pauline C.Williams 2-16-2010 @ 10:19AM

Recently requested information on my refund. I threw out 10 cans of slim fast shakes and received a check for $1.70.
Will I receive the rest of my refund soon!
Pauline

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