Chobani is my favorite morning treat. One of the leaders in the Greek yogurt craze, Chobani is creamy, protein-rich, and quick.
So imagine my delight when the company introduced some new tropical flavors such as key lime. Then imagine my disappointment when I opened the yogurt and found a clumpy, watery, foamy mess instead of the usual thick product.
I'm not alone. In fact, Chobani received so many complaints on Facebook and Twitter that the company issued a statement on its blog informing consumers they "identified a type of mold commonly found in the dairy environment. The product in question is less than 5 percent of our production and is limited to cups produced at our Idaho facility, which accounts for only one-third of our production capacity."
Besides the mold making the yogurt look and taste funky, some other less fortunate recipients of the popular treat have experienced yogurt that looks like fermenting beer. Others report their yogurt cups swelling, bloating, and even exploding. And the problem seems to be affecting more than 5 percent of the yogurt sales.
Susan Elizabeth Fisher posted the following on Facebook:
The key lime flip made me soooo sick a few weeks ago. I couldn't figure out what it was so continued to purchase my favorite one. I had two look like they were going to blow up within a day of purchasing. I kept looking at the dates, worried, but they had plenty of "safe" time before expiration. I am sad this company didn't act faster, as obviously this has been a concern for many.
Keilah Thompson from Fargo, North Dakota, said:
I think your problem is larger than 5% of your chobani. 100% of our chobani is bad and now we will be switching to another brand.
According to Chobani, the majority of potentially affected cups are stamped with the code
16-012, with expiration dates of 9/11/2013 to 10/7/2013. The company is working to remove these products from store shelves.
If you do have any exploding yogurt, the company is coordinating replacements through its website at chobani.com/who-we-are/contact.
For now, I'll stick with Rice Krispies. They snap, crackle, and pop -- but they don't explode.
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