Protein Problems: Bolthouse Farms and Muscle Milk Issue Voluntary Recalls Over Spoilage Concerns

ProteinRecall970Two protein beverage makers issued voluntary recalls of their products this month over concerns of potential spoilage.

On June 17, HP Hood LLC, a contract manufacturer of Hormel Foods – which acquired the Cytosport brand in 2014 for $450 million – initiated a recall of select Muscle Milk products produced in its Sacramento, Calif. facility. The recall was posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Safety Alerts page, which indicated that a possible packaging defect may have resulted in product spoilage.

“Consumers may notice that, in some cases, the packaging is bloated and product inside may have an off taste or odor,” read the release. “Consumers should not use the product, since it does not meet its high quality standards.

The Muscle Milk products affected include 10 and 14 oz. bottles of MUSCLE MILK Genuine, MUSCLE MILK Pro Series, and MUSCLE MILK 100 Calorie, with Best By dates of November 21, 2016 and May 23, 2017.

In an e-mail to BevNET, a CytoSport spokeswoman said the voluntary recall “went as expected, and we’re now focusing on replenishing shelves and delivering great product experiences that exceed the Muscle Milk brand standards of providing high-quality, great tasting protein options.”

The company said it has not received any reports of illness from consumers regarding the affected protein drinks and that the recall affected “a small percentage of Muscle Milk products overall.”

Meanwhile Bolthouse Farms was unable to report the same in its June 22 recall of 3.8 million bottles of its “Protein PLUS” and “Mocha Cappuccino” lines. Its alert revealed the company was made aware of the spoilage after receiving consumer complaints that included reports of illness and that the affected batch of beverages may “appear lumpy, taste unpleasant and have an off odor.” The cause of the spoilage has yet to be determined and is under investigation.

Bolthouse Farms bolstered its range of protein packed offerings this Spring, adding a protein sub-line to its 1915 range of organic, cold-pressed, high pressure processed (HPP) juices. In a March interview with BevNET, company president Scott LaPorta pointed to a 20 percent compound annual growth of protein-infused super-premium beverages.

A spokesperson for Bolthouse Farms declined to comment for this story.