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Mondelez Global review: Toxic contamination 143

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5:03 pm EDT
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I have the same complaint, same UPC#...They taste like insectiside of something. I ate about 10 of them in my chili last night, woke up in a sweat, turned on AC and went back to bed...Today my children all complained about them, and I tasted seperately from any other food...They Smell and taste horrible, also burn my throat some...just drank milk to dilute and rinse...?

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143 comments
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Jessica NKY
, US
Nov 10, 2023 12:52 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Oh my gosh no matter the brand, I have noticed the past year all of them taste like chemicals and I end up throwing the entire box out. And yes it burns my throat and I can not get the taste out of my mouth. Something is going on.

*I MISS MY SALTINES THAT DO NOT TASTE LIKE CHEMICALS *

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Charles Essary
, US
Nov 03, 2023 5:01 pm EDT
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Ran out of crackers so I bought a new box. Everything was fine. This is my routine. I have an old Tupperware cracker box that holds 4 sleeves. I put 3 in it and I also have a single sleeve Tupperware container that I put of the packages in. All were sealed up nice and snug unopened wrappers and in the air tight containers. When we got around to needing crackers with out homemade soup, the single Tupperware and unopened crackers had the smell of a bad chemical. I didn't have to open the crackers to smell them. I tasted one and it was rancid horrible. I opened the large Tupperware container and the smell was also horrible. This is without opening the crackers and in 2 separate air tight containers. So, this has to have something to do with the wax packaging. I washed the 2 Tupperware containers with Dawn and they still stunk, then washed with with Clorox spray cleaner and the still stunk, then filled them with like a 25/75 mixture of Bleach and water and let them sit. The odor was still there after an hour. We had the Tupperware containers for decades and I sure hated to but, we had to throw them out. Whatever this is, it's bad.

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KM723
Indianapolis, US
Aug 23, 2023 11:32 pm EDT

I recently opened an unexpired box of unopened premium saltine crackers and they literally smell like plastic or some type of horrible chemical. I know your post was years back but seeing what came of your complaint? Did you get an answer as to what was causing the unpleasant chemical smell? Inquiring minds want to know. Thx :)

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goodnose
, US
Jul 10, 2023 3:35 pm EDT
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I THINK the manufacturers of various crackers and cookies etc are SPRAYING them with something to give a longer shelf life. I don't know what it is but to me its non-edible and from now on when I get a package where the contents SMELL funny, I"m taking them back to the store I bought them from. I'll tell them why too.

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Carrie Ann Stewart Rebeaud
, US
Jul 18, 2022 9:09 pm EDT

Just bought these crackers at family dollar and they taste like perfume or chemicals of some sort wth?

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CC Weddel
Victor, US
Jan 10, 2022 8:28 pm EST

I disagree with off gassing as I store my dry products in a cinder block room in my basement. No pressboard at all. Have had to throw out all of my cracker and storage. Will be making my own from here on out. Its the packaging! Had some nuts do this also, please be careful folks!

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CC Weddel
Victor, US
Jan 10, 2022 8:22 pm EST

Same with me, made the meatloaf taste like the rancid crackers, what I want to know is why no one is posting wether or not they got sick! This is truly important as there are alot of scared people out there. I experienced the metallic taste and a bit of an upset stomach. So far I have not experienced vomiting. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU EXPERIENCED ANY ILLNESS AFTERWARD!

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Claudia Van Gorden
, US
Aug 13, 2020 1:02 am EDT

We just opened a box of Honey Teddy Grahams and the crackers had an awful, petroleum kind of odor! The expiration date is a year from now so that wasn't the issue.
Immediately threw away the box and will never buy them again! DO NOT PURCHASE!

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S Dugger-Hardison
, US
Jun 10, 2022 4:58 pm EDT

I just brought teddy graham's from a discount store. They had expired 2 months ago. So I thought the were good. Opened them fed them to my 5 yr old and 18 month old and I tasted them. The bag had a strong smell and my lip and tongue felt numb after tasting. I stopped the kids from eating them. Now I am worried we will get sick. I can still smell it on my hands. What is this?

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Kimo56
Lenexa, US
Dec 06, 2019 5:47 am EST
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I believe what most of you are describing is a result of Off Gassing. The wood or finish used in your cabinets give off small amounts of gas and foods like saltine crackers, gram crackers, oats, Chex Mix, nuts, etc absorb the gas over time and leave the smell / taste. Using saltine crackers as an example, they are also known as soda crackers because baking soda is an ingredient. Think about it, we use baking soda in our refrigerators and other places to absorb odors. .
In my 20+ years experiencing this issue off and on, I have been able to narrow down what I believe is causing the issue and it comes down to the type of wood used in shelves and cabinetry. The invention of and use of partial board became wide spread over that past 40 years because it was a cheaper alternative to solid wood, especially in pantry shelves and cabinets. I have concluded the process used to create partial board continues to Off Gas for decades and foods susceptible to absorbing odors, like saltine crackers, absorb enough gas over time to make the food taste and smell bad.
This issues is compounded because we store the food in an enclosed environment like a pantry or kitchen cabinet where there is poor air circulation, causing a higher concentration of gasses, all to be absorbed by the food.

My conclusion:
1. Root cause is off gassing from the partial board or possibly the cabinet / shelf finishes
2. Storing foods with high odor absorbing properties in the cabinet or on the shelves
3. Closed environment with little or poor air exchange
4. Time - the amount of time the food has been stored in the environment.
5. Variables - The concentration of the gasses and exposure times.

I have not found a solution short of replacing the cabinets or shelves with quality solid wood and guaranteed non toxic finish.

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Jam269
, US
Dec 24, 2019 4:18 pm EST
Replying to comment of Kimo56

This same issue has happened to me multiple times and has caused me to waist many many boxes. I have had the same problem with crackers opened as soon as I brought them home from the store. I have also had this same problem with white rice. I have read also complaints of graham crackers smelling the same way. My personal opinion is that certain foods absorb packaging chemicals. Seems to me that manufacturers started changing their packaging materials several years ago and these issues are coming to light more and more.

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Bruce Rodger
São Vicente, BR
Feb 20, 2022 4:48 pm EST
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Replying to comment of Kimo56

While your assessment sounds very plausible, it does not apply to my case. I have been buying the same varieties of crackers for a decade and storing them in exactly the same place, sometimes well beyond expiry date, without any problems whatsoever. But in the case of a packet I bought recently - Nestlé Tostines water biscuits (a product I usually keep in stock) - upon opening the packet (with a due by date of [protected] - 3 months from now) I immediately detected a paint smell. So I tried eating a couple, with cheese - with no dire consequences other than the disagreeable smell, which also affected the taste - then transferred the rest of the crackers to a plastic container kept in a different location. I have just dipped into them again, but the paint smell and taste remains, so I am only keeping the product with a view to providing evidence to support a formal complaint to the supermarket and manufacturer. My point is that the problem cannot be linked in any way to my storage here. Either it stems from the packaging (though I have been buying this product for decades without ever encountering this problem previously) or the way it was stored by the supermarket or transported to the supermarket, or the origin stems back to the distributor or manufacturer (here in SP, Brazil).

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MAKOhio
, US
Nov 07, 2019 1:28 pm EST
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Also had similar experience with Nabisco saltine crackers chemical smell and taste, plastic sleeve was sealed, but they had expired, advise- DO NOT EAT, must be the plastic
Marianne

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MAKOhio
, US
Nov 07, 2019 1:26 pm EST
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I just opened a package of Nabisco saltine crackers and had the same experience of smelling/tasting of chemicals, I only ate 2, so far I am not sick, my crackers were also expired but remained in the sealed plastic sleeve, since it seems multiple companies involved must be the plastic packaging- very scary- should have this tested. ADVISED- DO NOT EAT THEM

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Leah F.
, US
Feb 27, 2019 1:39 pm EST

I just opened a box to give some of these crackers to my grandson and thank goodness I tried to eat one first. The chemical taste/smell is disgusting! After spitting out what was in my mouth and taking the uneaten crackers from his hand, I checked the expiration date. They did expire a little while back, but I only bought them about six months ago. I never thought to check the expiration date on Saltine crackers. Expired or not, there is something seriously wrong with these crackers. I will never buy them again. Warning to anyone else who dares to eat these crackers: Smell them first and if they do not smell like basically nothing, DON'T EAT THEM! For reference, the UPC on my box is [protected].

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unknown_2091
, US
Jan 08, 2019 10:46 pm EST

Yo I think the saltines I've been eating for the past 5 months have been making me so ill constantly. I thought saltines were supposed to help, not make me sick.

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Linda Billingsley
, US
Jan 08, 2019 5:04 pm EST

I have just opened a box. They are horrible burnt and taste horrible. The last several boxes I have bought have been like this. I have always bought Premiun. Not any more. Horrible.

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Annlin
, US
Oct 20, 2018 5:15 pm EDT

Complaint regarding Premium Plus Crackers. Ingredients have changed..won't be buying anymore..check out these two new chemical additives Potassium Chloride and Pentosanase...can be dangerous to consume...so absolutely no more for me. I suggest everyone should read up on them. I understand that Postassium Chloride is a type of salt, that cannot be used on it's own hence the sea salt (nice touch) and salt.

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Nastycrackers
, US
May 21, 2018 9:16 pm EDT
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Tonight I decided to have a soup for dinner, opened up a box of saltine crackers (I like crackers in my soup) and crushed them into my soup. The soup tasted horrible. Can't even describe the taste. I got the box of crackers out of the cupboard and ate one, it was terrible. I have bad allergies at the moment and can't smell very much but I could smell that the crackers smelled like paint when I got my nose close to one.

I threw the crackers away and hope I do not become sick.

I got on the computer and searched for this subject and it seems a lot of other folks have got ahold of bad crackers also.

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:13 pm EST

I just ate 2 will I be okay?

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:57 pm EST

I ate a teddy graham that tasted chemical like... but I was okay, now I ate 2 saltine crackers they tasted okay but the smell, it wasn’t strong and I didn’t even notice it until I smelled one I’m panicking will everything be okay?

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maggiemaye
, US
Feb 05, 2018 7:28 pm EST

I cannot believe after more than 7 years that no one has filed a lawsuit or that Nabisco has done nothing to investigate or recall these crackers. I was just looking up the Nabisco premium cracker website and ran into all of these comments. I had planned to post a comment regarding the bad taste of the highly-browned, nearly burnt crackers that I ate from a brand new pkg with an expiration date of June 7, 2018. Since I ate a few in my soup, I have had nausea and burning taste in my mouth and gums. I only wish I had read these comments prior to ingesting and now I plan to throw away the entire box. glad that I saw this before giving any to my grandchildren who live with me. Does anyone know if there are any lawsuits or recalls? Please, everyone spread the word to your family and friends like I plan to do.

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:14 pm EST
Replying to comment of maggiemaye

I ate 2 will I be okay?

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:15 pm EST

They didn’t taste bad

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Melina Roxanne
, US
Jan 31, 2018 6:59 pm EST

I know these comments are all from [protected] but it still seems to be a problem. I opened a bag of the round Saltines I had in my pantry for a while and was hit with a weird smell. I tasted one and had to spit it into the garbage. The smell radiating from the bag stunk up the room for hours (even with the box gone from the room and outside). I did not make note of the UPC but I did check the expiration on the box and it was September 2017.

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lt0050
, US
Jan 17, 2018 5:44 pm EST

just had the same thing with Nabisco premium crackers, chemical smell and taste, looks like this has been going on for several years? put them in chili and didn't notice the taste until I was almost finished, now I have a metallic nasty taste in my mouth in cant get rid of and starting to feel sick. gave some to my son and had to text him to throw them out.

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DeathByChili
, US
Dec 07, 2017 5:58 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Another victim of out of date Publix Saltines. My wife made chili and I dumped a bunch of crushed crackers in the bowl as I usually do. The soup was horrid. I asked if our dining table had just been cleaned with some nasty detergent sensing the odor. Since that didn't happen I figured the chili was really bad and like the good husband, I ate it all. Yuck!. After finishing the chili I figured I'sd eat some crackers plain to flush out the taste of the bad soup. Only then I realized it was the crackers. I at half a sleeve of this crap. Hope I survive to see tomorrow in good health.

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:16 pm EST

Are you okay?

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:17 pm EST

Did u get sick?

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Robin-Oregon
, US
Oct 23, 2017 6:49 pm EDT

Looks like a lot of people have complained about various cracker and cookie products all with the same problem. It does appear to be the packaging! I wrote to Keebler about saltines I ate from an unopened package in an expired-date box and they didn't answer. Lesson here for me is to toss even "well packaged" food if it's beyond the exp. date. I appreciate all the input! As for the bloke who wrote that Trump will fix the problem, actually the deregulating going on with the EPA he loves will only encourage the use of more toxic chemicals in our food. Just sayin'.

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Patsy Quisenberry Sylvester
, US
Sep 28, 2017 1:23 pm EDT

I just opened a package of Saltines Original Publix brand. They were also outdated and were wrapped in the milky plastic wrap instead of the clear wrap. I put peanut butter between two crackers and put the whole cracker in my mouth with a big swallow of milk. It tasted terrible (like oil and kerosene and had a bad smell) so I googled to see if it was toxic and found this information. I tried to force myself to throw up but nothing came up. Has anyone had to go to the hospital or become violently ill from this?

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:18 pm EST

Not that I know of but I just ate 2 and I’m okay

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smdlaw33
, US
Jul 06, 2017 12:00 pm EDT

I just ate some and I couldn't even swallow it. It reminded me of the time I had hairspray in one bottle and vodka in another. I thought I was about to do a shot of vodka but it was actually hairspray. My body would not allow the hairspray to travel down my throat, therefore I spat it up everywhere. My Concern is that my children were eating these and the taste is so strong, I fear what kind of damage this could do in the long run. Please advise and thank you in advance for your assistance.

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Pusheen The Cat
, US
Feb 16, 2018 4:52 pm EST
Replying to comment of smdlaw33

Were your kids okay?

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Henna Hernandez
, US
May 18, 2017 9:55 am EDT

I can't believe this happened to me. It was a normal Thursday morning and I was sitting in my chemistry class, just trying to do a project. A few prior I had asked my pal to buy me some saltines. Of course, my friend had bought me the saltines. On this day, May 18th, 2017, I had expired saltines. While opening the package, i had smelled the strong scent of paint and horrid chemicals. Deciding that it was nothing, I ate one. Soon, one turned into ten. While on the road to ten saltines, my mouth, oh my mouth, it started to burn and tingle. I didn't want to be wasteful. I know there are kids starving, so I couldn't bring myself to do it. Soon, after my relentless complaining, my friend took the saltines away and properly disposed of the expired crackers. Dear friends, let it be known to all, don't eat expired salting, I wish you luck. Thank you.

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VTKitty
, US
Apr 05, 2017 9:20 am EDT

Nabisco has moved all their production facilities to MEXICO last year. I will not buy any Nabisco product, cookies, crackers, anything made by Nabisco because of Mexico now making these. So please check the packaging on food products before purchasing! They probably are being made outside the USA.

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Judith Burney
, US
Feb 15, 2017 3:40 pm EST

I have a box of Nabisco Original Premium Fresh Stack dated 04 Jan 2016. I opened one of the packages shortly after purchasing the box. The cracker I bit into tasted nothing like any cracker I had ever eaten. The taste was horrible and left an after taste. Only ate the one cracker - it was enough. To me, it was like eating something I would imagine had been soaked in gasoline. I opened one more stack, nibbled on a cracker and found the same terrible taste. I kept the box and the other unopened stacks hoping to find somewhere to send the box and crackers for analysis.

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Daver11111
, US
Jun 09, 2017 11:30 am EDT

June 9, 2017 My box of Keebler Zesta Saltine Crackers is also very nasty. We have had them a couple of months. My wife and I ate several before we noticed the taste was horrible and left a nasty after taste and we were burping paint fumes for a couple hours. The smell of the crackers and the packages is like paint thinner or insecticide. No more of this brand for me any longer!

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NightRhapsody
, US
Jan 22, 2017 6:55 pm EST
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I, too, do not have the original box--I transferred all four packages to a Tupperware cracker keeper when I bought them. I opened up the cracker keeper, and it reeked of chemicals. I thought the crackers would be ok since I hadn't opened the packages--I was wrong. I used them in a creamed corn casserole I've made zillions of times, but this time, it tasted like chemicals. I threw out the rest of the crackers, and they gave my trash smell that same chemical odor! I'm just hoping I don't have to throw out my Tupperware--I scrubbed it with baking soda and vinegar, then hot, soapy water; results are not yet in. If anyone comes across a suitable cracker replacement, please let me know.

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Chaz DeSimone
, US
Jan 10, 2017 8:46 pm EST

I noticed the weird smell and taste right away from a box that expired 6 months ago. I really didn't think crackers would go bad, so googled it and found two surprising things here: 1. These crackers definitely are bad, possibly from a bad batch, or more likely from the packaging materials (sure does seem like what cemailh above says--packaging made from recycled bottles. But whatever is causing the sour smell and taste, this is the more surprising item: These posts go back to 2010 or earlier (I'm on the most recent page of 5) and it is now January 2017! Yes, my box expired in June 2016--but 6 years later the problem hasn't been resolved? First I'll contact the FDA (although someone already did back in 2010 about the same issue), then I'll contact Nabisco for a refund, not a replacement. Finally, I'll try some other brands. Too bad, because Nabisco Saltines is the "de facto" soup cracker. Thank you all for your comments above; confirmed that I did the right thing by spitting out the bite and throwing away the package--well, not yet, not till I get my refund!

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Chaz DeSimone
, US
Jan 10, 2017 8:54 pm EST

Oops - I erred. But that's what makes this really strange. My box is not Nabisco; it's Sunshine Krispy "Original" Saltines (now owned by Kelloggs). I wonder if everyone uses the same packaging material. Or the same baker! Now I don't know if I'll find any brand that seems good. I did find this recent page which shows that the same smell and taste is happening in [protected] that people were complaining about in 2010.

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Lloyd Rucker
, US
Jan 09, 2017 3:06 pm EST

having problems with the regular saltine crackers-been buying the fresh stacks but throw most of them away due to freshness and taste. no consistence- been going on for a few months-------- I see i'm not the only one having problems---what's going on? Nabisco Lloyd rucker 9911 Kingsport ave. Newport richey fl 34655 n0# [protected] buying at publix

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Shirley Plankinton
, US
Jan 07, 2017 6:25 pm EST

Bought Nabisco Premium Crackers today, ate some but tasted really different, then .I smelled in package and had weird odor like a gas station or chemicals...hard to describe...hoping I don't get sick...the expiration date is April 2017 so they're not expired...I'll be bring them back tomorrow...
I looked them up then I see all these other complaints too for same thing...wonder if they get the complaints and if they're doing anything about it...shouldn't they pull them off of shelves and investigate?

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NFMike
, US
Dec 22, 2016 7:34 pm EST

I have had the same "toxic odor" and awful taste problems. We had a box we had to throw out several weeks ago, which we thought was a one time problem. We purchased two more boxes recently and they went in the garbage yesterday. This seems to be a problem stretching back several years, from the dates on the comments above. It should have been resolved.

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lovelifewithmusic
, US
Dec 07, 2016 7:30 am EST

I had the same problem with a package of Lances' Cream Cheese and Chive crackers. I got them out of a vending machine and the smell of paint thinner or melted plastic was overwhelming. I work next to the warehouse in my office so I thought it couldn't possibly be the crackers. popped on into my mouth and had to spit it out . 2 hours later and the smell and taste will not leave me and my tongue is burning. Feeling like I am going to vomit from the smell alone.

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Tomwilliams
, US
Nov 28, 2016 3:35 pm EST

I have experienced the same chemical smell in saltines of different brands. Unless Nabisco made same crackers under different brands, too. Horrible smell, didn't want to taste them. My mom said they were fine, but I disagree, smells like paint.
One of packages from new box of HyVee supermarket chain in Iowa. Why cannot we find out what happened?

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Marilyn Hazen
, US
Nov 27, 2016 2:10 pm EST

I just opened a box of Keebler Zesta Saltine Crackers. I purchased them on Monday, 11/21/16 from HEB in San Antonio, Texas - expiration date of Feb0117 TA1, UPC Code [protected]. I had 1/2 of a cracker and it was horrible! The smell and taste was overpowering - my mouth still has a chemical after taste. I opened a 2nd sleeve of crackers and the same smell.

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NicGrioghar
, US
Nov 06, 2016 10:59 am EST

I don't think the UPC Code makes a difference - that code will be on all boxes of that size. The date stamp code will be more useful. I've had this happen twice now. In my case the smell came after I'd had the crackers awhile. When I first opened the package everything was fine. It doesn't seem to matter how they are stored either. I've left them in the original box and stored them in the old fashioned Nabisco can. I just bought a two pack thinking they would get used up faster and not smell, but after reading this board, I might just take the crackers out of the packaging and store them in an OXO container.

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Chaz DeSimone
, US
Jan 10, 2017 9:01 pm EST

That will be interesting to see if it's the liner packaging or the cracker itself. Packaging bad enough, but if it's in the ingredients holy [censor]! Anyway, wanted to comment on your mention of OXO. I am extremely loyal to that company since they replaced a simple dishwashing brush for me. They treated me like gold and even offered an upgrade. If you take a look at their website you'll see they really care about their customers AND their employees. Only thing I don't agree on is they insist it's pronounced "ockso" while I prefer just plain O-X-O!

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TnTK
, US
Nov 02, 2016 11:30 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

UPC [protected] 8 Nabisco premium saltines with sea salt; manufacture or expiration date June15 2015: I ate 2 crackers and noticed a strong chemical stink from box, thick white plastic liners, and crackers. I disposed of everything. I will assess any future Nabisco purchase and return to store if similarly offended. Am alerting family and friends to be aware of foodstuffs awa a wide variety of other items that I have just been made aware of through internet research. Caveat emptor. Appreciate others' contributions.

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Wright C Bradley
, US
Oct 04, 2016 11:49 pm EDT

I think that it tastes like shellac smells, I'm wondering if it absorbed the paint/stain from the cabinets

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Pam Burton
, US
Sep 14, 2016 11:32 pm EDT

just ate one, nabisco saltines, yuck... so disgusted strong chemical odor now stomach cramps and nausea.

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Kathy McCullers Miller
, US
Sep 02, 2016 5:49 pm EDT

We too just had the same experience as everyone in the comments! My husband opened a new small pack of Nabisco saltines ...he said those crackers taste awful...I smelled of one and almost lost my chicken salad!
It was so toxic that I threw them in our trash but it smelled so bad that I had to take the trash out to big garage can outside!
Hope my hubby doesn't get sick...he ate 3-4 before he realized. I can not find anywhere of what to do if he does get sick...if anyone has an answer please let me know or else emergency room! I will slap a Lawsuit and sue Nabisco! ...