Smokeless tobacco products recalled for presence of foreign matter

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is voluntarily recalling some smokeless tobacco products due to the presence of sharp metal objects found in select cans, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent Feb. 1.

The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, lead consumer safety officer for DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has a recalled or withdrawn product in its inventory, the product is immediately removed from store shelves.

The following products are affected by this recall:

• Cope Brand Products: recall applies to the following product with no printed code on the bottom of the can, or with codes that begin with the letters "F", "R", "K", or "P."
  • Long Cut Straight
• Copenhagen Brand Products: recall applies to the following products with no printed code on the bottom of the can, or with codes that begin with the letters "F", "R", "K", or "P."
  • Extra Long Cut Natural
  • Long Cut Mint
  • Long Cut Southern Blend
  • Pouch Mint
  • Pouch Wintergreen
  • Long Cut (overseas military only)
  • Fine Cut (overseas military only)
  • Long Cut Straight (overseas military only)
  • Long Cut Wintergreen (overseas military only)
  • Pouch (overseas military only)
  • Fine Cut Plastic Can (only available in Alaska and Hawaii)
  • Long Cut Plastic Can (only available in Alaska and Hawaii)
  • Pouch Plastic Can (only available in Alaska and Hawaii)
• Husky Brand Products: recall applies to the following products with no printed code on the bottom of the can, or with codes that begin with the letters "F", "R", "K", or "P."
  • Fine Cut Natural
  • Long Cut Straight
  • Long Cut Wintergreen
• Skoal Brand Products: recall applies to the following products with no printed code on the bottom of the can, or with codes that begin with the letters "F", "R", "K", or "P."
  • Bandit Mint
  • Bandit Wintergreen
  • Long Cut Apple Tobacco Blend
  • Long Cut Berry Tobacco Blend
  • Long Cut Cherry
  • Long Cut Citrus Tobacco Blend
  • Long Cut Classic
  • Long Cut Peach Tobacco Blend
  • Long Cut Spearmint
  • Pouch Apple Tobacco Blend
  • Pouch Berry Tobacco Blend
  • Pouch Citrus Tobacco Blend
  • Snus Mint
  • Snus Smooth Mint
  • Xtra Long Cut Mint
  • Xtra Long Cut Rich Tobacco Blend
  • Xtra Long Cut Wintergreen
  • Xtra Pouch Crisp Tobacco Blend
  • Xtra Pouch Mint Blend
  • Xtra Pouch Rich Tobacco Blend
  • Fine Cut Wintergreen (overseas military only)
  • Long Cut Mint (overseas military only)
  • Long Cut Straight (overseas military only)
  • Long Cut Wintergreen (overseas military only)
  • Pouch Mint (overseas military only)
  • Pouches Wintergreen (overseas military only)

The majority of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco cans are not affected, including Copenhagen Fine Cut in a fiberboard can, Copenhagen Long Cut in a fiberboard can and Copenhagen Long Cut Wintergreen in a plastic can.

The company announced the recall after receiving eight consumer reports of foreign metal objects found in select cans. In each case, the object was visible to the consumer and there have been no reports of consumer injury.

Customers who purchased any of these products at the commissary should bring them back for a refund.

Consumers with questions may contact U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company at 1- 866-201-9136.