Mondelez Global review: Toxic contamination 144

I don't think this problem is limited to crackers. I have had this same experience with bags of sunflower seeds, potato chips, pretzels, and now lemon bar cake mix! In most cases, I had purchased the item awhile ago, so I believe it has something to do with the chemicals in the plastic packaging breaking down over time. There is no question about it - you can smell it, and most definitely taste it. It's a horrible, chemical taste, that lingers on your tongue and mouth, and you can't get rid of the taste for hours! I've been wondering what exactly is causing this, what packages/brands to avoid, etc. It's not just one company using them. The sunflower seeds were from Trader Joes, don't remember the chips, lemon bar mix was Krusteaz. If anyone has more info on this, please post!

I ran across this with Nabisco crackers a couple years back. Switched to Keebler. Today I opened a package of the crackers, and immediately smelled them first. Smelled like Insecticide. The rest of the package was from the same box. I opened a newer box I had and they were fine. I feel certain, as others here have noted, that the problem is with the packaging being used breaking down after time. -- My advice, check expiration dates. Don't use crackers you have had for a long while without smelling them first. Always smell any package of crackers before you use them. I made it a habit.

I had almost the same thing happen to me. I bought some no-name saltines at the Dollar store. They tasted a bit stale (but not chemical or paint smell) but I spread some jam on them and had a few like that after supper, as a dessert, every night for about two months. I was getting sicker and sicker with severe gastrointestinal reactions, and ended up in the hospital twice suspecting really bad ulcers etc. Finally, after MUCH trial and elimination, it turned out to be the crackers. So - yes, old crackers can actually be poisonous and land you in hospital with severe distension of the stomach, near-inability to walk due to the g.i. swelling, nausea, dizziness, weakness, trembling and sweating. And you won't suspect the crackers because we all believe crackers last pretty much forever.

Interesting to read everyones complaints for the past 4 years regarding the posting of bad crackers. I experienced the Nabisco saltines as being rancid or having been soaked in a chemical. I just thought was because perhaps the crackers were old. Then just last night our family was makign S'Mores and the graham crackers had the exact same taste/smell. These were graham crackers with the Kroeger label printed on them. Neither one of the crackers were anywhere close to being expired. Are all of these "branded" crackers produced in the same facility, but just packaged differently? Unbelieveable that perfectly good food will be thrown away for a company's lack of initiative to investigate the situations everyone here has faced.

I just threw out a meatloaf for the same reason as several other posters listed: horrible smell/taste from the cracker crumbs I put in it. The crackers I used were Nabisco Premium Saltines and they WERE past the sell-by date, so I am inclined to agree with the posters who theorize something in the packaging goes bad over time. I have always kept extra crackers around to avoid running to the store at the last minute, but will have to check every pack before using going forward. I'm thinking cracker manufacturing companies need to take another look at their packaging.

Just opened a sealed pack slightly expired and crushed them for hamburgers. Then as I was adding them to the ingrediants, I noticed the smell but thought it was something else...the smell got horrible as I cooked them and we threw them out. We checked the opened bag and it was the crackers...same smell as everyone else's ...chemically, toxic smell!

Same smell...ate a bite and noticed horrible taste in the hamburgers I made with the crackers..traced smell back to crackers which had a horrible smell...toxic and nausiating. All sealed packs had the same smell! They were slightly out of date.

The same thing just happened to us tonight. I made a meatloaf and didnt check the crackers, thought it tasted a little off while we ate the meatloaf but just thought it was due to leaving out some seasoning or something. Later my 3 year old granddaughter wanted a cracker and I opened a new sleeve, smell almost knocked me over, my husband and daughter said it smelled like insecticide, I tossed the rest of the meatloaf and the crackers. They were Keebler Zesta saltines. I almost panicked thinking these crackers had just poisoned us all. Something needs to be done about this.

Same experience here as well. Keebler Zesta. Nasty smell and taste.

I just offered a Saltine cracker to my best friend as we were working. It was an individually packaged Saltine cracker from Wendy's (individually packaged). she took a bite and said it was disgusting. I thought it might be a little stale, and asked to try a piece. I ate a small corner of the cracker and noticed a very strange taste: metallic and some other flavors I can't describe. It was horrible. My friend threw up 5 mminutes later and I (half an hour after eating a minute piece) can still taste the metallic flavor and feel a slight burning sensation on the side of my mouth that I chewed the cracker... this is really disturbing. I kind of want to have the cracker tested...

We too had a sleeve of Nabisco Saltines that were odd tasting. Made gumbo last night and opened the last sleeve of crackers and my husband said the crackers tasted odd. I tasted one and it tasted like there were chemicals in it. Also smelled funny. Sorry, I do not have the box it came in so I can't compare UPC codes. It's odd that the other 3 sleeves were OK. Go figure!

I had an unopened sleeve of Nabisco Saltines in my metal Nabisco tin. Upon opening the tin, a most horrible odor assaulted my nose! Diesel like definitely. My best guess would be the wrapper is deteriorating somehow. I don't know how old the sleeve was but I don't eat saltines except with soup and I only have soup in the winter. Why hasn't the FDA done something about this?

I just opened a box of Nabisco saltines to give to my 5 year old. The smell took my breath away. It smells like varnish, even the box does. It made want to gag. I always buy the off brand, but these were on sale so I bought them instead. Big mistake. Im sticking to the off brand of crackers.

At 1:10PM 10/4/14, in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, at Pegasus Diner on 3rd Ave and 86/87th street, I ate Chicken Rice Soup. I accidentlly ate one pack of Nabisco Saltine Crackers, which had a Lacquer smell and taste to it. I told the owner to inspect his supply. He came back and said his box smelled funny. I asked him for a sample, but refused to surrender it to me, claiming that he already threw them in the garbage. I did save the wrapper that the crackers I ate came in. I am worried, any suggestions on a course of action?

Has anyone heard anything more about what this chemical is? I had the same thing happen today ate one bite and started to vomit. Hours later I still feel horrible. My husband said it smelled like varnish to him. What have these crackers been exposed to?

I just had to throw away three full stacks of saltine crackers...as someone said before, they had a strong odor of varnish/lacquer, too strong to even keep in the house; they were in a Tupperware cracker container, and I can't get the smell out of that...it's a horrible smell! Does anyone have an answer for it?

it's a cool snowy night and my family just looked forward to a bowl of chili when I heard a scream..."somethings wrong with these crackers" and spitting into the trash. The sleeve was unopened and smelled of chemicals and tasted worse. Theres nothing premium about these crackers. I will cease buying nabisco products and issue a complaint with the FDA.

Someone needs to help the consumer with this! I love crackers of all types and until recently, I never ever had a single bag go bad. Now, it seems like every cracker is going so rancid that I thimk I should stop eating them altogether, whether they seem good or not, because when they go sooooo nasty, I feel like there must be something in them that is extremely bad for humans. Why isn't this in the news?

I have had the same thing happen to me. Is there an answer yet as to why this is happening? What is the cause?

I just had the same terrible issue, I can't believe this problem has continued on for so long! We opened a fresh pack of Nabisco Original Premium Saltine Crackers tonight to have with soup. My mom and I were cooking and she took one right before I did, ate it and she was absolutely astounded by the taste- she said she's never had anything so bad. Likewise, just as I was about to eat my cracker, I got a whiff of the scent and it was horrendous, just as everyone has said in the past, like varnish and chemicals. The whole box reeks. I hope my mother will be okay. The serial number on the box is [protected]. The expiration date on the box is missing or illegible...upside down on the wrong tab I think. Didn't think that Saltines could go bad. Glad to have found this thread. I hope we can get something done about this somehow.

Nabisco really needs to address the Premium cracker issue. Aside from people gagging on the rancid ones, the company changed the recipe, changed the character of the cracker, and changed the inner packaging material. I shop at a Wal Mart Super Center.Not too long ago, Premium had a whole block floor to ceiling for Premium Crackers. Now maybe 3 shelves by 12 boxes, also carried the 8 packs. Not any more. The brand is headed for oblivion unless action corrects this Mex ico blunder!

OMG! Why has nothing been done about this? Just opened a box and took one bite...tasted like varnish. Threw out the box. Glad to have found this thread. Can't believe this has gone on for years without anything being done.

there gram crackers have it to. they wont do anything about it. i pretty much dont trust the brand anymore.

Just opened some Lance Nekot Cookies bought in one of those bulk boxes of multiple individual serving packages from a Sams/Costco/BJ's type store. They've been in my office cabinet for a little over a year and expired about 8 months ago. Ate half of one cracker and nearly gagged on the taste. Massive chemical smell. Can't get taste off my tongue. Opened all remaining crackers in the box, all Nekot's smell the same - like varnish or even an insecticide. GAH! Most others (Peanut butter & cheese "Toast Chee" and Captain's Crackers - sour cream & chives) smell fine, but throwing them all away to be safe. Lesson learned, don't mess with out-of-date items in plastic wrappers!

I bought the saltines last night due to nausea. It's always been my standby - Coke and crackers. I'm getting an aftertaste I've never had before. The cracker almost smells and tastes like Wintergreen oil. I've thrown away the one I opened and will likely discard the rest. What a waste of money! I won't be buying this product anymore. Sad. I've been eating their saltine crackers since I was a kid and can never remember them tasting this bad.

8/5/15 I am FREAKING OUT over this because I ate a cracker and they tasted funny and I am pregnant! After reading all of these complaints I am dumbfounded this problems has been going on for years!? I am on the phone with the medical & safety team for the company now and they said I should be fine because when stored a long time they just absorb the odor and it shouldn't be harmful to me.

Same complaint, same UPC. Bought at Walgreens today. Will be taking them back tomorrow.

This has been happening in our house for over a year. I thought it was something in the cupboard where I keep my crackers and boxed goods. Tonight I decided to look online to see if anyone else is having this problem. My counter is covered with chips and crackers as I stopped using the cupboard. We opened a bag of older pretzels and they hadn't been in the cupboard and had that awful taste. I would bet this is a chemical breakdown of something in the packaging. Plastic recycling has issues and I am very concerned now that I have read all the reports from consumers but 'crickets' from the manufacturers of these products.

This happened to me tonight. I feel very upset. How is this still an issue after years of poisoning people!

Have the same here, Minnesota

I can't believe they have allowed this crap to happen for five years and haven't recalled craps! I got the same thing going on over here never heard a damn thing from Nabisco! I'm on a mission now they kissed off the wrong Soldier! I will never eat Nabisco again!

I had a box of Keebler Zesta saltines that I opened recently and was put off by the stench so I assumed they had just gone rancid so I threw them away. I recently bought another box and when I opened it (lot number [protected]) I found it had the same toxic smell, taste, and seem to contain either a toxic organic toxicant or adulterant that induces nausea and upset stomach in exactly the same way that has been described by everyone else on this list for the past four years. I intend to go get some fresh from the store, open them before I leave to see if the same horrendous odor is present, and ask the store manager if he wants to get a bad reputation for continuing to sell such trash. If everyone follows suit, we might get the manufacturer to track down what is going wrong. I wonder if they added outdated oil, or if some adulterant has gotten into their supply. Whatever it is, it is absolutely totally putrid.

Same thing here, my boss opened a package of saltines today to eat with his lunch, he brought one out to me to smell, it was horrible! I can't even describe the smell coming off this thing, like the strongest acidic chemical smell ever! My nose is still burning! I don't understand how they have been getting away with this for so long.

Just opened a box of premium saltine crackers and they smell and taste horrible. Already had some in my soup and was eating them and kept smelling something. Hope I don't get sick. Smell and taste linger.

Just opened a box of Nabisco saltines. Same thing. Totally rancid, toxic smell. I will be returning them to the store where purchased and also filing a compliant with Nabisco.

The saltine problem still exists just as described several times in this complaint board. Contacted Nabisco with little result, Original Premium Saltine Crackers [protected]

03/02/16. I thought the Terminex guy sprayed the box somehow in the pantry but couldn't figure out how it got through the plastic. These have to be poisonous. I gagged when I opened a new sleeve to double check it wasn't in my head. Asked my mom but she didn't know so I googled. Found these posts since 2009. How has this not gone seriously public?!

I just opened a box of store brand saltines that were recently purchased and nowhere near expiration. They were stale and smelled odd, but I used them anyhow in meatloaf thinking the other ingredients would make it taste good. What a mistake! The meatloaf was reliable and the smell was so bad we had to throw away the pan I baked it in. Smelled like metal or something rotten. Hopefully no one gets sick! Not happy to have wasted 3lbs of ground sirloin!

I had noticed the chemical smell from and older package of Nabisco Premium Saltines. I thought it may be due age, I threw them out. I purchased a new box of the saltines next time I was at Smith's (Kroger affiliate) UPC [protected]. Same UPC as the one I threw out. Horrible smell and taste. I've read other complaints from years ago. We winter in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Summer in Norther California. I bought my last Nabisco product in AZ

Just had the crackers with my soup. Does anyone know what it is? Am I going to get sick? The smell was awe full and my mom and I did eat some :( what should we do?