Rite Aid recalls tainted butter cookies

Working in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rite Aid has initiated a voluntary chain wide recall of 85,000 tins of butter cookies distributed under the Rich Fields brand name.

The cookies are exclusively distributed by Rite Aid.

Company officials said the cookies may be contaminated with the bacteria Bacillus cereus. This microbe is a known cause of diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting. The possibility of serious adverse health consequences is remote, according to the FDA.

B. cereus produces spores, which readily contaminate undercooked foods.

The recall affects only 12-ounce tins with either a castle or Christmas design. Affected products can be identified by UPC codes 01249596519 and 88411804619. The numbers are located directly beneath the bar code on the bottom of each tin.

No other Rich Fields or Rite Aid brand products are affected by the recall, which was initiated after company officials conducted quality testing and noticed an uncharacteristic odor. Customers are advised not to eat the cookies, which can be returned to any Rite Aid for a full refund.

Information is available by calling 800-RITE-AID Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 to 6 p.m.