By Olivia ParkerA nationwide Once Upon a Farm recall of all lots and flavors of its Tractor Wheels Organic Toddler Soft-Baked Bars triggered a sharp Wall Street sell-off on Monday, November 2, 2026, after federal health officials warned of a potentially fatal choking hazard. Shares of the Berkeley, California company plunged 36.35% intraday as executives detailed the product withdrawal.
FDA Warns of Sticky Mass and Airway Obstruction Risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the formal recall notice on November 2 after the company initiated the voluntary withdrawal on Friday evening, October 30, 2026. Regulators warned that the fruit-flavored snacks—designed for toddlers aged 1.5 to 2.5 years—can rapidly hydrate upon contact with saliva into a dense, dry, and sticky mass during chewing.
According to the FDA advisory, three choking incidents involving 1- and 2-year-old children were reported, including cases of complete airway obstruction where standard first-aid measures such as back blows and the Heimlich maneuver struggled to clear the airway. Chief Executive Officer John Foraker told investors Monday morning that while no permanent injuries have been reported, the company recalled every lot and flavor out of caution while third-party experts investigate the root cause.
Distributed nationwide and in Puerto Rico through retail stores and online orders, the recalled items include all expired lots as well as unexpired packages carrying best-by dates from October 30, 2026, to August 26, 2027. Affected items span 5-count (3.35 oz), 10-count (6.7 oz), 20-count (13.4 oz), and 30-count (20.1 oz) boxes in Strawberry, Pumpkin & Beet; Apple, Sweet Potato & Spinach; and Banana, Pumpkin & Cauliflower, plus 9-, 12-, and 15-count online sampler packs.
Stock Plunges Over 36% as Analysts Downgrade Shares
In a Form 8-K filing and investor conference call on November 2, management disclosed that the Tractor Wheels line generated approximately 18% of total company net sales year-to-date. News of the halt in shipments and planned product reformulation sent Once Upon a Farm, PBC (NYSE: OFRM) shares falling as much as $5.46 per share, or 36.35%, on Monday, prompting a securities fraud investigation announcement by law firm Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP on November 3.
On Tuesday, November 3, BofA Securities downgraded the stock from Buy to Underperform and cut its price target from $21.00 to $10.00 as shares closed at $9.44, down 41% over the week and hovering near a 52-week low of $9.07. Analysts cautioned that rebuilding parental trust in the childhood nutrition Business could take 12 months and spill over into the rest of the brand’s portfolio.
Balance Sheet Liquidity and Refund Instructions for Parents
To reassure investors ahead of its full third-quarter earnings release scheduled for November 12, 2026, the Jennifer Garner-backed company reported preliminary unaudited third-quarter cash and cash equivalents of $106.4 million with no outstanding debt as of September 30, 2026. The company also holds up to $95 million in borrowing capacity under existing credit facilities and is evaluating recoveries under its recall insurance coverage.
Before the recall, second-quarter net sales had surged 42.3% year over year to $85.4 million, prompting management to raise full-year 2026 revenue guidance to between $327 million and $335 million despite gross margin slipping from 40.8% to 35.9%. Parents and caregivers are urged not to serve the bars and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund, email care@uponafarm.com, or call 1-888-983-1606.
