In yet another in a series of recalls that began in March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Union International Food Company (UIFC) is now recalling Lian How Brand White Peppers over Salmonella contamination concerns. UIFC’s pepper products were linked to a multi-state outbreak following the discovery of Salmonella in food samples collected from restaurants and food distributors.
UIFC of City of Industry, California is recalling its Lian How White Peppers packaged in five-pound plastic containers with red labels. The recalled peppers were distributed in Southern California to restaurants and wholesalers from September 2008 to March 2009. No other Lian How Brand White Pepper products are affected by this recall and no illnesses have been reported to date.
The FDA said that the recall was the result of a testing conducted on a shipment of peppers that was purchased around September of 2008 and which revealed that the finished products contained the Salmonella bacteria. Consumers who have purchased the affected UIFC White Peppers with Red Label are urged to return the peppers to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact UIFC at (626) 854-8880.
Early last month, what was believed to be the first lawsuit resulting from the multi-state Salmonella spice recall that was expanded in April, was filed. The Associated Press (AP) reported previously that a California man said he was poisoned by Salmonella after eating at a buffet-style restaurant in Reno, Nevada. The AP reported that, according to the victim, he became ill after eating food contaminated with the tainted spices served by the restaurant. The lawsuit blames UIFC for liability, negligence, and breach of warranty, said the AP.
The recall began in March with one spice manufactured by UIFC and has since been expanded a couple of times and includes 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. Scores of illnesses have been reported in a number of states including Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington State, with a number of patients requiring hospitalization.
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 that the recalled EDS Wrap and Roll frozen chicken egg rolls were sold to restaurants in California.
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.
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