Nesquik Recall Is Latest Food-Safety Scare

Consumers who use Nestlé's Nesquik chocolate powder drink should check whether their containers bear one of 14 production codes that are recalled by Nestlé USA because the product may contain the bacterium salmonella.

The company announced a voluntary recall of limited quantities of the powder because it was notified by supplier Omya Inc. that it recalled certain lots of an ingredient, calcium carbonate, because of the potential for salmonella.

There have been no illnesses reported.

The recall affects following sizes, UPC and production codes of Nesquik Chocolate Powder:

40.7 oz. Chocolate (72 servings)

• UPC code

0 28000 68230 9

• Production codes:

2282574810

2282574820

21.8 oz. Chocolate (38 servings)

• Upc code

0 28000 68090 9

• Production codes:

2278574810          2278574820
2279574810          2279574820
2284574820          2284574830
2285574810          2285574820
2287574820          2289574810
2289574820

10.9 oz. Chocolate (19 servings)

• Upc code

0 28000 67990 3

• Production codes

2278574810

To locate the production code, consumers should look on the bottom of the canister, adjacent to the consumer expiration date. All affected products have an expiration date of "best before Oct. 2014."

The most common symptoms of salmonella infection are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, which develop within eight to 72 hours of eating or drinking contaminated food. The illness usually lasts for four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.

However, salmonellosis can be severe or even life threatening for infants, older people, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.

For more information or for assistance on returning this product, contact Nestlé consumer services at (800) 628-7679.

This latest food=safety scare follows a peanut butter recall by Trader Joe's, among others, that resulted in seven known illnesses in California.

What do these recalls mean: do they suggest better self-reporting by companies or lax production standards? Sound off in the comments.