The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning parents not to buy or serve a toddler snack bar sold at major retailers after the product reportedly blocked children's airways.

Once Upon a Farm, based in Berkeley, California, recalled all lots and varieties of its Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars on Oct. 30 due to a choking hazard, according to an FDA advisory. The bars were sold nationwide, including in Washington state, at stores such as Costco, Target and Walmart. They were also sold online, including on Amazon.

Costco, Target and Walmart each operate stores in the Olympia and Tumwater area. The FDA has not specified which individual locations carried the product.

What the FDA found

The FDA said it received several reports of toddlers ages 1.5 to 2.5 "suffering complete airway obstruction with the inability to breathe after consuming the product."

When chewed, the bars reportedly form a dry, sticky mass that standard choking interventions, including back blows and the Heimlich maneuver, may fail to dislodge, the agency said. Some choking incidents required emergency response and hospital observation, according to the FDA.

The company's account differs. In its Nov. 2 press release, Once Upon a Farm said the recall was based on three consumer complaints reported to the FDA for choking and that "no injuries have been reported to date." The FDA's advisory, by contrast, describes incidents involving complete airway obstruction and hospital observation.

Once Upon a Farm co-founder John Foraker said the company is working with the FDA to remove affected products and is reformulating the bars, according to The Olympian.

What's recalled

The recall covers all three flavors: Strawberry, Pumpkin & Beet; Apple, Sweet Potato & Spinach; and Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower. It includes 5-count, 10-count, 20-count and 30-count packages as well as variety packs and online-only sampler packs, according to the FDA's recall notice.

The recall covers all lot codes in distribution, including expired products that may still be on consumers' shelves. Unexpired "Best If Used By" dates range from Oct. 30, 2026, to Aug. 26, 2027.

What to do

The FDA said consumers should not open or eat the recalled bars. Return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund, or throw them away.

Consumers can also email [email protected] for a refund. The company said refund requests may take 10 business days to process.

For questions, call Once Upon a Farm's customer care line at 888-983-1606, available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST.

If someone is choking and first aid fails to clear the obstruction, call 911, the FDA said.