At least 10 people, including young children, have been hospitalised after eating a popular yoghurt brand that has been recalled nationally.
Victorian yoghurt company Cocobella issued an urgent recall for some of its popular dairy-free products last week, due to undeclared traces of milk.
“Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume this product,” the alert from Food Standards Australia New Zealand said.
“Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.”
On Saturday, the alert was widened to take in all of Cocobella’s coconut yoghurt products, including all flavours and sizes. They have been sold at Woolworths, Coles and independent retailers including IGA nationally and online.
By then, however, many people had already become ill.
Among them was a two-year-old Victorian boy, who was hospitalised with anaphylaxis after eating a Cocobella banana yoghurt.
“It was honestly the most traumatic experience of my wife’s and my lives,” the boy’s father, who gave his name only as Nate, told the Seven Network.
“He started snorting through his nose to try to get oxygen in. He had hives everywhere, his eyelids and lips were swollen, his whole body was red.
“At that point, my wife says that she honestly thought that we were about to lose him.”
Suspecting an allergic reaction, Nate and his wife rushed their son to hospital. He was given a shot of adrenaline, and gradually recovered over about four hours.
Nate was certain Cocobella was the cause.
“It was very clear because he had gone to sleep for his daytime nap, and then he woke up, he ate nothing, he drank nothing, except the Cocobella,” he said.
In another alarming incident, Melbourne mum Grace Kolo said her one-year-old son became violently ill after eating Cocobella yoghurt every day.
“In the beginning, for about 30 minutes, 40 minutes, he just kept sneezing, non-stop,” she told Seven.
Believing it was hay fever, Kolo gave the boy medication, but his condition quickly deteriorated. He developed a rash and began coughing and struggled to swallow.
Kolo called paramedics, who were immediately asked if her son had eaten anything to trigger the reaction.
“Obviously I said, no, because the yoghurt is safe, right? It doesn’t have dairy in it,” the Melbourne woman said.
She learned of the recall only when friends sent it to her.
“I couldn’t believe it, I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “When they showed me, I thought, ‘This is why?’ Because we were scratching our heads. It was just insane because it was just out of nowhere.”
Cocobella said this week it had at least 10 reports of hospitalisations linked to the recall.
“We are in touch with all of those who have contacted us, and are thankful everyone affected is now home,” the company said.
“We’re deeply sorry to anyone who has become ill and are encouraging anyone else with concerns to contact us directly.”
It said it was continuing to investigate the contamination.
“While the overwhelming majority of product lines have tested negative to the allergen, the wider recall will ensure public safety while Cocobella continues its thorough investigation into the cause of the issue,” it said.
“Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume any Cocobella Coconut Yoghurt products at this time. Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.”
The company apologised “unreservedly” for the issue.
“We recognise the trust our customers place in us for their dietary and health choices. We are determined to understand how this issue occurred so we can ensure it cannot happen again,” it said.
Anyone who has one of the affected yoghurts should return it to where it was bought for a full refund.
FSANZ warned anyone concerned about their health to seek medical advice.
Cocobella’s range of coconut water is not affected by the recall.
Further information is available from Cocobella on 1300 020 223
or by emailing consumer@cocobella.com.au.
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