The ongoing, multi-state <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/salmonella">Salmonella
spice recall has been expanded and, worse, the outbreak attributed to the tainted spices has sickened 60 people in four states. The San Francisco Gate reported that health officials in California just announced the recall of more pepper and curry spices.
The recall began in March with one spice manufactured by Union International Food Company (UIFC). The recall has been expanded a couple of times and recently included a number of spices and over 50 sauces and oils. According to a prior CBS2 report, the California Department of Public Health said the food products were manufactured at a contaminated facility.
Illnesses have been reported in Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington State, with a number of patients requiring hospitalization.
According to California Department of Public Health spokesman, Al Lundeen, said the SF Gate, the most recent recall expansion includes “Natural and Delicious†white pepper, black pepper, and curry powder spices labeled by CJ United Corporation; CJ United Corporation maintains a cash and carry store in Oakland, California and received the products from UIFC. The spices are sold in five-pound, clear plastic jugs and are supplied to Bay Area restaurants.
Recently, UIFC recalled its Lian How brand dry spices, which are usually sold in bulk quantities to restaurants, said the SF Gate. The recalls also included Uncle Chen black pepper (whole and ground), white pepper, and Wasabi powder; Uncle Chen products are sold at retail stores. Sauce and oil products manufactured under the Lian How and Uncle Chen brand names that are packaged in a variety of glass and plastic containers and contain the words “Packed by Union International Foods†or “Union International Foods†following the brand name, have also been recalled, said CBS2 in an prior report.
EDS Wrap and Roll Foods LLC was forced to recall over six tons of its chicken egg rolls because the egg rolls contained black pepper spice likely linked to the recalled spice products made by UIFC. Banned Foods said in a report earlier this month that the recalled EDS Wrap and Roll frozen chicken egg rolls were sold to restaurants in California.
The Sacramento Bee reported that UIFC recalled all of its Union City-produced products due to potential Salmonella contamination and noted that the California Department of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the Salmonella outbreak. The products were sold to restaurants and were available in retail stores, said the Sacramento Bee. UIFC’s pepper products were linked to the multi-state outbreak following the discovery of Salmonella in food samples collected from restaurants and food distributors.
Salmonella can cause serious, sometimes fatal Salmonellosis infections in young children; weak or elderly people; and those with weakened immune systems, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy or diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Healthy people may experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, if infected. Without treatment, severe cases of Salmonella poisoning can result in arterial infections—such as infected aneurysms—endocarditis, arthritis, and death; however, some Salmonella bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, largely due to the use of antibiotics to promote the growth of feed animals.
