'Slim Fast' Recalls Products Because of Bacteria

Slim Fast has recalled its diet drinks over concerns about a bacteria that can cause moderate food poisoning. Unilever, the company that makes Slim Fast products, says that the recall was prompted after "quality testing" discovered Bacillus cereus, a toxin that can cause nausea and diarrhea but that is not life-threatening.

According to ABC News, Unilever says that the quality assurance testing was strictly routine. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, B. cereus is relatively mild. Unilever is recalling its Slim Fast products out of caution rather than out of severity of the bacteria.

The Slim Fast recall only applies to its liquid products, not its powdered shakes or diet bars. Slim Fast offers five lines of products: Original, Optima, Low Carb, High Protein, and Easy-to-Digest.

If you have purchased Slim Fast diet drinks, the company recommends that you discard the items and call 1-800-896-9479 for a full refund.

Slim Fast Recalls Products Over Bacteria: History of Slim Fast

In 1977, S. Daniel Abraham created the Slim Fast products as part of the Thompson Medical Group. In 1987, the brand went private and was acquired by Unilever in 2000. In 2002, when dieters began to adopt low carb lifestyles, Slim Fast created its Low Carb and Optima (lower sugar) products.

One of Slim Fast's catch phrases was "a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner." Slim Fast diets plans have become more flexible over the years because of the introduction of its snacks products.

Slim Fast has had many celebrities endorsements including Tommy Lasorda, Shari Belafonte, Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford, Whoopi Goldberg, and Ann Jillian.

Whoopi Goldberg's relationship with Slim Fast was particularly controversial. The company ended its relationship with her and took her ads off the air after she had made sexually explicit comments about President Bush at a John Kerry fundraising event. GOP groups had threatened to boycott Slim Fast if the company did not take action.

According to CNN, Whoopi Goldberg argued that the public had been overreacting to sound bites and that she had poked fun at presidents of all political stripes throughout her career. In her farewell message to Slim Fast users, she wished them "godspeed" and hoped "that everything will be better digested, now that I'm no longer representing them."

Sources:

'Slim Fast' Recalls All Shakes, Diet Drinks, Brian Hartman, ABC News

Slim-Fast trims Whoopi from ads, CNN