Once Upon a Farm Pulls Tractor Wheel Bars After Three Choking Reports

Once Upon a Farm is voluntarily pulling all of its Tractor Wheels soft baked bars from the market after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that the product caused complete airway blockages in several young children. The company announced the recall on Monday, Nov. 2, effective immediately.

The FDA stated that it received multiple reports of toddlers suffering total airway obstructions that left them unable to breathe after consuming the bars. The agency noted that the product reportedly forms a dry, sticky mass when chewed. This texture can prevent standard choking interventions, including back blows and the Heimlich maneuver, from clearing the airway. Some of the reported incidents required emergency medical services and hospital observation.

John Foraker, the chief executive of Once Upon a Farm, said the company has received three specific reports of a potential choking risk. He stated that the company is currently reformulating the bars to ensure they meet high standards for safety. Foraker added that the company’s mission involves improving child nutrition by doing the right thing for its customers.

The recall covers all flavors, quantities, and varieties of the Tractor Wheels bars, including every lot code and expiration date. The affected products include the Apple, Sweet Potato, & Spinach variety; the Strawberry, Pumpkin, & Beet variety; and the Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower variety. No other Once Upon a Farm products are part of this recall.

The bars were sold in most supermarkets and retail stores across the United States. Major retailers carrying the product include Walmart, Costco, Target, and Amazon. Consumers are advised not to open or consume the recalled items. They should return the bars to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact the company at care@uponafarm.com.

The FDA did not specify the total number of reports it received, but the company confirmed the three incidents that triggered the action. The warning targets parents of toddlers, urging them to check pantry shelves for the soft bars before serving them to young children. The company said the reformulation process is underway to address the texture issue identified in the complaints.

Parents are encouraged to check the packaging for the specific Tractor Wheels product names listed in the recall notice. The soft bars are designed for young children, making the airway risk a primary concern for caregivers. The company expects to have the reformulated product ready in the near future, though no specific launch date was provided in the initial announcement.