The Government of the Virgin Islands has taken swift action to safeguard consumers in light of the recent recall of Kraft Mac and Cheese.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development and the Premier’s Office have combined efforts with grocery stores and supermarkets to ensure the removal of the original flavor Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, in response to the international voluntary recall of approximately six-point-five million boxes world-wide. There are concerns that some packages may contain small pieces of metal.

The boxes, which are all seven-point-two-five ounce in size, are stamped with "best when used by" dates ranging from Sept. 18, 2015 through Oct. 11, 2015. They are marked with the code "C2" directly below the date on each package.

Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Carnel Smith said that the Environmental Health Division has been supervising the removal of the products from all retailers for destruction.

Mr. Smith stated, “Thus far, we have been very successful in receiving the cooperation of all proprietors of large supermarkets and retail outlets with the removal of the products off the shelves.” If customers have purchased a Kraft Macaroni and Cheese with the affected code, the product should either be discarded or returned to the supplier for a full refund.

He added, “While to date there has been no report of illness resulting from the consumption of the product, the recall action taken is a safety and reasonable health precaution.” 

 Mr. Smith advised that when purchasing any Kraft Macaroni and Cheese product, customers should carefully examine the item to ensure it does not bare the code or information identified.

The Environmental Health Division is urging all supermarkets and retail outlets stocking the Kraft Mac and Cheese products to remain vigilant.

According to Director of Trade and Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Karia Christopher, yesterday, Wednesday, March 18, her department reached out to businesses to ensure the removal of all affected boxes from the shelves and to also ensure that consumers who previously purchased any affected Kraft Mac and Cheese dinners, will receive a complete refund or exchange from initial vendors.

She added that affected businesses have been informed of the expectations and have agreed to comply with the refunds.

According to Kraft, some of the products were also packaged in multi-pack units with a range of different code dates and manufacturing codes on the boxes. The boxes were sold throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and in some countries in the Caribbean and South America. In all, 242,000 cases of the product are involved in the world-wide recall effort.

For assistance with the removal and destruction of affected product items, retailers can telephone the Environmental Health Division.