Health Law

Black pepper and HVP rolling recalls continue

By Drew Falkenstein

The outbreak linked to salami and pepper, and the recall linked to hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), have sparked additional food recalls.  First, the pepper.  The FDA's recall notice posted today (it is dated March 25th--from a consumer health standpoint, shouldn't these notices be going up a little closer in time to the day they occurred) states as follows:

As a result of a nationwide recall of Black Pepper by Mincing Overseas Spice Company and by Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Perfect Candy & Packaging Co is joining in this product recall due to the possibility of contamination with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Perfect Candy & Packaging Co. has issued a voluntary recall for the following product with an H.D.W. Foods Inc. label.

Whole Black Peppercorns, 2.0 oz Bags UPC# 080869654293

And the HVP recall notice (again, dated March 25 but posted today--I check multiple times a day) states:

Modern Products, Inc. is initiating a recall of products manufactured with HVP (Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein) supplied by Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas, Nevada, because the ingredient has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

"Consumption of products containing Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms) endocarditis and arthritis."

To date, no illnesses have been associated with any Modern Products seasonings. In addition, random samples covering all HVP batches of concern were sent to an independent laboratory for testing and all results came back negative, but to be safe, FDA's recommendation to recall product is being followed. 

The CDC's outbreak summary indicates that , from July 2009 through February 2010, at least 252 people were infected by Salmonella as a result of consuming Daniele, Inc. salami products that were manufactured using contaminated pepper from Wholesome Spice Company and Mincing Overseas Spice Company.  See summary and other commentary on outbreak.

The original HVP recall occurred last month and was initiated by Basic Food Flavors, a Las Vegas, Nevada company.  HVP is a flavor enhancer used in a wide variety of processed food products, such as soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips, and dressings. The FDA recently announced that, during its investigation at the Las Vegas facilities of Basic Food Flavors, it found Salmonella Tenessee (the serotype involved in the recall) in the companies production equipment. 'This situation clearly underscores the need for new food safety legislation to equip FDA with the tools we need to prevent contamination," said Dr. Jeff Farrar, associate commissioner for food protection, FDA's Office of Foods.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on March 30, 2010 (boomark / email).