Kraft shares fall amid mac and cheese recall

Kevin McCoy | USA TODAY

Shares of Kraft Foods Group (KRFT) fell Wednesday after the company launched a voluntary recall of approximately 6.5 million boxes of original flavor Kraft Macaroni & Cheese because some packages may contain small pieces of metal.

The boxes — all 7.25-ounce in size — have "best when used by" dates ranging from Sept. 18, 2015 through Oct. 11, 2015. They are marked with the code "C2" directly below the date on each package.

Some of the products were also packaged in multi-pack units with a range of different code dates and manufacturing codes on the boxes, Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft said in a Tuesday announcement of the recall.

The boxes were sold throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and in some countries in the Caribbean and South America. None were shipped or sold in Canada, Kraft said.

Photos: Mac and cheese alternatives

In all, 242,000 cases of the product are involved in the recall effort.

Kraft Foods Group Inc. said the company was aware of eight incidents in which consumers reported finding metal in the boxes. There have been no reports of injuries, Kraft said. Consumers shouldn't eat the macaroni, and instead should return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund, the company said.

"We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed," Kraft said.

Kraft shares were down 1.91% at $60.52 in late morning trading Wednesday.

Contributing: Associated Press