Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Recall (2026): Why the FDA Says Stop Serving These Toddler Bars
Every flavor, pack size and lot of the soft-baked toddler bars is recalled after reports of complete airway blockage in children ages 1.5 to 2.5. What to do with the box in your pantry, what made these bars different, and how to lower choking risk with other snacks.
What parents should know
- All three flavors are recalled: Apple, Sweet Potato & Spinach; Strawberry, Pumpkin & Beet; and Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower.
- That includes 5-, 10-, 20- and 30-count boxes and online snack sampler packs, and expired boxes still sitting on shelves.
- Unexpired Best If Used By dates run from 10/30/2026 to 8/26/2027, but the FDA says the advice applies to every date.
- Sold nationwide and in Puerto Rico, online and in stores; the FDA names Costco, Target and Walmart, and possibly Amazon and other sellers.
- Don't open the package. Return it for a refund or throw it away; questions go to care@uponafarm.com or 1-888-983-1606.
- If a child is choking and first aid isn't working, call 911. The FDA says standard maneuvers may not clear this particular food.
Which Tractor Wheels boxes are recalled?
Short answer: all of them. The company notice posted by the FDA covers every lot code in distribution, and the FDA's November 3 update repeats that its advice applies to "all flavors, quantities, and varieties, including all lot codes and expiration dates up to 8/26/2027." You don't need to match a code to know your box is affected. For reference, here are the packages and UPCs exactly as the notice lists them.
- The company's own announcement lists distribution to 45 states plus Puerto Rico and online sales.
- Only the Tractor Wheels bars are named. The sampler packs are recalled because they contain Tractor Wheels cartons; the notice doesn't say the other snacks in them are affected.
- The company says it is reformulating the product. Until a new version is clearly identified as reformulated, treat any Tractor Wheels box as recalled.
| Product | Pack | Net weight | UPC or case code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberry, Pumpkin & Beet | 5 count | 3.35 oz (95 g) | 81000351261 |
| Strawberry, Pumpkin & Beet | 10 count | 6.7 oz (190 g) | 810003512932 |
| Apple, Sweet Potato & Spinach | 5 count | 3.35 oz (95 g) | 81000351260 |
| Apple, Sweet Potato & Spinach | 10 count | 6.7 oz (190 g) | 810003512840 |
| Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower | 5 count | 3.35 oz (95 g) | 81000351262 |
| Variety pack (10 Apple, 10 Strawberry) | 20 count | 13.4 oz (380 g) | 810003512918 |
| Variety pack (10 of each flavor) | 30 count | 20.1 oz (570 g) | 810003512925 |
| Organic Baby & Toddler Snack Sampler (online only) | 9 count, includes three 5-count Tractor Wheels cartons | Not listed | Case 10810003513670 |
| Organic Baby & Toddler Snack Sampler (online only) | 12 count, includes three 5-count Tractor Wheels cartons | Not listed | Case 10810003513694 |
| Organic Ultimate Snack Sampler (online only) | 15 count, includes three 5-count Tractor Wheels cartons | Not listed | Case 10810003513687 |
What made this snack a choking problem
Most toddler choking advice is about shape and hardness: whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, hard raw vegetables. Tractor Wheels are soft-baked, which is exactly why parents chose them. The problem described in the recall is different. The company says the bar's composition "can rapidly hydrate into a dense, dry, and sticky mass upon contact with saliva and during chewing."
That matters because of what the FDA reported next. In the cases it received, toddlers had complete airway obstruction with the inability to breathe, and the agency warned that back blows and the Heimlich maneuver may fail to dislodge the mass. Some incidents required emergency response and hospital observation. The company says its decision was based on three consumer complaints reported to the FDA and that no injuries have been reported to date; Consumer Reports also describes three reports.
What to do with the box in your pantry
- Don't open it or serve it. That includes finishing an open box "carefully" while supervising; the FDA's concern is that a choking episode may not respond to normal first aid.
- Get your refund. Return it to the store where you bought it, even if it's opened, or contact Once Upon a Farm at care@uponafarm.com or 1-888-983-1606 (weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT, Saturdays 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. PT, per the notice).
- Check the diaper bag, car and daycare cubby. Individually wrapped toddler bars travel. Tell grandparents, sitters and your child care provider about the recall too.
- Report a problem. If your child choked or had another reaction, tell your pediatrician and report it to the FDA through the Safety Reporting Portal.
If your toddler chokes on any food
A child who is coughing hard, crying or talking is moving air. Stay with them and let them cough. A child who can't breathe, cough, cry or speak, or who is turning blue, needs help right now: shout for someone to call 911, put the phone on speaker if you're alone, and start the first aid you were taught for a child over 1. The FDA's specific advice for this product is to call 911 if first aid measures fail to dislodge the obstruction.
Take an infant and child CPR class if you haven't; the hands-on practice is what makes the steps automatic. Our food choking first aid guide and choking vs. gagging explainer walk through what each looks like, and any child who had a serious choking episode should be checked by a doctor afterward, even if they seem fine.
Picking replacement snacks for 1- to 3-year-olds
You don't need to give up convenient snacks, but it's worth testing any new one yourself: put a piece in a little water or squeeze it after a few seconds of chewing. Foods that melt or fall apart are lower risk than foods that ball up, turn gluey or stay chewy. The CDC's choking hazard list for young children and the AAP's choking prevention advice are good references.
- Offer bars and soft-baked snacks broken into small pieces rather than whole, and watch the first few times.
- Keep snack time seated and supervised, not in the car seat or while running around.
- Soft fruit cut small, yogurt, well-cooked vegetables, shredded cheese and thinly spread nut butter on toast strips are easy swaps; see our 18-month snack ideas and 2-year-old snack ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Which Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels are recalled?
All of them: every flavor (Apple, Sweet Potato & Spinach; Strawberry, Pumpkin & Beet; Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower), every pack size, every lot code and every date, including the online snack sampler packs that contain Tractor Wheels.
Why were Tractor Wheels recalled?
Reports that the bars can quickly turn into a dense, dry, sticky mass when chewed, creating a choking hazard for toddlers ages 1.5 to 2.5. The FDA says some children had complete airway obstruction and standard choking maneuvers may fail to dislodge the mass.
Can I get a refund for opened Tractor Wheels?
Yes. The company says to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund, and Consumer Reports notes opened boxes can be returned. You can also contact care@uponafarm.com or 1-888-983-1606.
Are other Once Upon a Farm products recalled?
The recall names only Tractor Wheels soft-baked bars. The sampler packs are included because they contain Tractor Wheels cartons. Pouches and other products are not named in the notice.
My toddler ate Tractor Wheels without problems. Do I need to do anything?
Stop serving them and return or discard any left. If your child had a choking episode, even a brief one, mention it to your pediatrician and consider reporting it to the FDA.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide was checked against the current guidance below. Medical and safety recommendations can change; use the linked source and your child's clinician for decisions specific to your family.
- FDA: Once Upon A Farm Recalls All Lots and Varieties of Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars (company announcement Oct 30, FDA posted Nov 2, 2026)
- FDA: FDA Advises Consumers Not to Buy or Serve Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels (Oct 30, updated Nov 3, 2026)
- Once Upon a Farm: Recall and Reformulation of Tractor Wheels (press release)
- Consumer Reports: Once Upon a Farm Recalls Toddler Snack Bars
- AAP HealthyChildren.org: Choking Prevention for Children
- CDC: Choking Hazards for infants and toddlers
- FDA/HHS Safety Reporting Portal