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There’s no use crying over spilled milk — but chunky chocolate milk may be another story.
Horizon Organic Dairy has voluntarily recalled more than 53,000 cases of its shelf-stable 1% chocolate milk due to faulty packaging that could leave cartons bloated, prone to leaks, and prematurely spoiled.
Kendra Harrison, Horizon’s head of quality and food safety, said the recall was not initiated due to contamination by allergens, pathogens, or microorganisms, which is comforting given the alarming number of foodborne illnesses ravaging the nation this summer.
The Colorado-based dairy company initiated the recall on Aug. 7, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration, after receiving consumer complaints about product packaging and quality that may have an unpleasant taste, odor, or texture, according to a statement.
An investigation was launched to find the cause of the packaging mishap that affected 53,760 cases of 8-ounce cartons with best-by dates through the New Year 2027. But customers are advised to throw out the milk, keep their receipt, and contact Horizon to determine whether they are eligible for a refund.
It is also not Horizon’s first chocolate milk recall this year.
In March, the company recalled over 3,500 cases of its 1% DHA Chocolate Organic Lowfat Milk after discovering a similar packaging seal issue that could compromise the cartons and lead to milk spoiling prematurely.
Horizon, which got its start in Boulder in 1991 and is now headquartered in Broomfield, bills itself as a pioneer of organic dairy and the first organic milk brand to be sold coast-to-coast in the US.
But months before the latest recall, some loyal Horizon drinkers were already taking to the internet over a decidedly unappetizing problem: chunky chocolate milk.
A customer took to Reddit just four months ago to post a disturbing photo of curdled chocolate milk the user described as “chunky.”
The Georgia loyalist has been drinking the same milk for 12 years without any issues — until suddenly beginning to open cartons filled with chunks repeatedly.
“In the past few months, I cannot get a box of them without them all coming out like this… Why?! They’re not past the expiration date. It’s made me incredibly sad, because I used to quick grab a chocolate milk on the way out the door, but now every one I open theres a 60/40 chance my mouth gets filled with chunks.”
“Is there a recall I missed??” the user asked in the post, adding that they ultimately contacted Horizon and provided the company with product codes.
Others were simultaneously horrified and amused.
One user advised against drinking it at all, prompting another to correct them: “I think you mean eat.”
Another aptly referred to it as “chocolate cheese,” while others joked that Horizon apparently now came “with pulp.”
While there is no indication that the bad experiences were among those covered by either recall, the user confirmed they did not consume the beverage.
For now, consumers may want to give their chocolate milk carton a shake — and perhaps a second look — before taking a sip.
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