Actress Jennifer Garner’s baby food company, Once Upon a Farm, is recalling toddler snack bars nationwide after the FDA received reports of young children choking so severely they couldn’t breathe. Some incidents reportedly required emergency intervention and hospital observation.
The recall involves the company’s Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars, which are marketed for children between 18 months and 2½ years old. Once Upon a Farm announced the recall on October 30, 2026, after three consumer complaints involving the snacks.
And this isn’t just a company Garner promotes on Instagram. The actress is a co-founder, board member, and shareholder of Once Upon a Farm, which has built its reputation around organic snacks and meals for babies and young children.
According to the FDA, the recalled bars can become dangerously sticky as toddlers chew them, creating a potentially life-threatening situation.
“When chewed, the product reportedly forms a dry, sticky mass that standard choking interventions — including back blows and the Heimlich maneuver — may fail to dislodge,” the FDA stated.
The agency described reports of toddlers “suffering complete airway obstruction with the inability to breathe” after consuming the snacks.
The FDA also said, “Some reported choking incidents have required emergency response intervention and hospital observation.”
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The Tractor Wheels recall includes three flavors: Apple, Sweet Potato & Spinach; Strawberry, Pumpkin & Beet; and Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower.
All package sizes, lot codes, and varieties are affected, including multipacks and certain online snack bundles. The recall also covers products with expiration dates through August 26, 2027, along with previously expired packages.
The snacks were distributed nationwide and in Puerto Rico, including through major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Costco. They were also available online.
Once Upon a Farm initially said it had received three consumer complaints and that no injuries had been reported. However, the FDA separately described choking emergencies requiring medical attention.
During a November 2 company call, CEO John Foraker explained that Once Upon a Farm originally received one parent’s complaint before the FDA informed the business about two additional reports.
Foraker also acknowledged that the investigation had not identified a confirmed root cause directly linked to the incidents.
The recall is a significant situation for the company. Foraker revealed that Tractor Wheels accounted for approximately 18% of Once Upon a Farm’s total net sales so far this year.
Garner’s involvement goes beyond celebrity endorsements. According to a federal securities filing, she beneficially owned approximately 7.1% of the company’s shares as of March 31, 2026.
In its official statement, Once Upon a Farm addressed the recall and its decision to remove the snacks.
“We acted out of an abundance of caution, in the best interest of our customers and our commitment to quality. We are working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to make sure affected products are removed, and families have the information they need.”
The company also acknowledged the trust parents place in the brand.
“We know that parents place their trust in us every time they buy one of our products,” the company stated. “We fell short of that, and that is why we are taking these aggressive actions.”
The FDA urged families to stop serving the affected snacks immediately.
“Consumers should not buy or serve any flavor of the Once Upon A Farm Tractor Wheels, Organic Toddler Soft-BakedBars and should immediately throw it away,” the agency advised in its original warning.
“This advice applies to all flavors, quantities, and varieties, including all lot codes and expiration dates.”
Under the FDA’s updated November 3 guidance, parents can return recalled bars to their place of purchase for a refund or throw them away.
Families whose children experienced symptoms should “contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care,” according to the FDA. If a child is actively choking, call 911 immediately and follow emergency first aid instructions.
Once Upon a Farm says it is working on reformulating the affected bars. The company confirmed that no other products in its lineup are included in the recall.
