FDA Warns on Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Recall

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is urging families to stop buying and serving Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars. The agency warns of a potentially fatal choking hazard and says the warning covers every flavor, quantity, and variety. Organic baby food company Once Upon a Farm voluntarily recalled the bars on October 30, 2026.

The FDA posted an update on November 3, 2026 that repeats its advice to consumers. Parents and caregivers should return the product to the place of purchase for a refund or throw it away immediately. Retailers should not sell any of the recalled bars.

What the FDA Says About the Choking Risk

The agency has received several reports describing toddlers between 1.5 and 2.5 years old who suffered complete airway obstruction after eating the bars. These children could not breathe. Some of the reported incidents required emergency response intervention and hospital observation.

The FDA also explained why the bars may prove so dangerous in an emergency. According to the agency, the product reportedly forms a sticky mass when a child chews it, and that mass can resist the usual rescue methods.

“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. “Some reported choking incidents have required emergency response intervention and hospital observation.”

That description makes the recall especially urgent for families who keep the bars in a pantry or diaper bag. Caregivers who rely on standard first aid cannot count on it to clear the obstruction. The FDA therefore advises no one to serve the product at all.

Which Products the Recall Covers

The recall applies to all three flavors of the Tractor Wheels soft-baked bars, with no exceptions for lot codes or expiration dates. The FDA advisory covers every date up to 8/26/2027. Once Upon a Farm named the affected varieties in its announcement:

Apple, Sweet Potato, & Spinach Tractor Wheels bars
Strawberry, Pumpkin, & Beet Tractor Wheels bars
Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower Tractor Wheels bars

Parents should not assume a bar is safe because it carries a later expiration date or comes from a different batch. The FDA made clear that the advice applies to all flavors, quantities, and varieties. Anyone unsure whether a snack belongs to the recalled line should check the packaging for the Tractor Wheels name.

Where the Bars Reached Store Shelves

Once Upon a Farm distributed the bars nationwide, sending them to 45 states and Puerto Rico. The company said it shipped them through the internet and to distribution centers and retail stores. According to the FDA, retailers that sold the affected products include Costco, Target, and Walmart.

The agency also noted that the product may have appeared on Amazon.com and with other third-party vendors. Because sales channels vary, shoppers should look at online orders as well as store purchases. The FDA says it will update its advisory as more information becomes available.

Once Upon a Farm directs people to a recall page on its website for a full list of affected states and territories. The FDA website carries images of the recalled products, which can help families identify the bars at home.

How the Company Is Responding

Once Upon a Farm says it received three reports of the problem. The company says it is working with the FDA to remove affected products and to give families the information they need. In its statement, it also acknowledged the trust that parents place in its products.

“We know that parents place their trust in us every time they buy one of our products. We fell short of that, and that is why we are taking these aggressive actions,” Once Upon a Farm said in a statement on its website.

The company also plans to change the recipe. Co-founder and CEO John Foraker said the effort extends beyond the recall itself and includes a broader review of the Tractor Wheels line.

“As part of this process and a larger evaluation of Tractor Wheels products, we are reformulating these family favorites to ensure they adhere to the highest standards,” Once Upon a Farm co-founder and CEO John Foraker said in a statement.

What Families Should Do Now

The FDA lays out several steps for consumers and retailers. Families should act quickly, especially if they have toddlers in the house who recognize the packaging and ask for the bars. The agency recommends the following:

Do not buy or serve any recalled Tractor Wheels bars.
Return the product to the place of purchase for a refund, or throw it away immediately.
Retailers should not sell the recalled product.
Report a complaint or adverse event, such as an illness or serious allergic reaction, through the Human Foods Safety Reporting Portal.
Call 9-1-1 if someone is choking and other first aid measures to dislodge the obstruction have failed.

The recall highlights how quickly a familiar toddler snack can become a hazard when its texture changes the way a child chews and swallows. Parents who already served the bars without trouble should still stop, because the FDA bases its advice on the risk and not on any single child’s experience. Families can protect their children now by checking cupboards, lunch boxes, and online order histories for the recalled bars.