Muranaka Farm, Inc. of Moorpark, California, is recalling 1005 cases of 60-count bunched Parsley over concerns it was potentially contaminated with the dangerous, sometimes deadly, Salmonella pathogen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.

The Salmonella pathogen 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 who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and other immune system compromising diseases. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain within 12 to 72 hours of contamination. Generally, the illness lasts a week, but, in some, hospitalization is required because the infection may have spread to the blood stream and other body sites, producing more significant illnesses. Without treatment, severe cases of Salmonella poisoning can result in arterial infections—such as infected aneurysms—endocarditis, arthritis, and death.

Some Salmonella bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, largely due to the use of antibiotics to promote the growth of feed animals. Salmonella poisoning can also lead to Reiter’s Syndrome, a difficult-to-treat reactive arthritis characterized by severe joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination.

The 1,005 cases of the 60-count fresh bunched Parsley bear Lot Code 0023909 and were distributed in 10 states: Arizona (30 cases), California (574 cases), Colorado (35 cases), Florida (60 Cases), Iowa (3 cases), Illinois (1 case), Missouri (7 cases), Tennessee (5 cases), Texas (278 cases) and Wisconsin (12 cases). These cases were distributed within both retail and foodservice outlets. The FDA also stated that the product was shipped in a brown wax carton under the Muranaka Label with a parsley silhouette on the side. The Parsley bunches were banded using a red rubber band. The lot code number of 0023909 is on a sticker on the outside of the carton.

The recall was as the result of a voluntary sampling program conducted in cooperation with the FDA, which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. To date, no illnesses have been reported.

Consumers with questions may contact Muranaka Farm, Inc. at 1-805-529-0201 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). The FDA is also urging consumers to contact their retailer to determine if the Parsley product they have purchased is from Muranaka Farm and is associated with Lot Code 0023909.

Greg Emi, President of Muranaka Farm said, “The health of all consumers is of the utmost importance to every employee of our company. With that in mind, even though this product is over two weeks old and most likely past the useable shelf life, we have taken immediate actions to ensure that all product is accounted for and out of the supply chain. We are working with all of our customers to insure this product is no longer being distributed.” Muranaka Farm’s trace recall program enabled the firm to immediately determine which customers purchased the recalled product as well as the amount of cases harvested, the crew harvesting the product, and the field on which the parsley was grown and harvested.

Premier Organics of Berkeley, California is recalling 840 cases of Artisana Raw Tahini over concerns of Salmonella contamination, the Georgia Department of Agriculture just announced.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, Tommy Irvin, is alerting consumers that some Artisana Raw Tahini may be contaminated with Salmonella. The involved product bears lot number 90811 and is packaged in 16-ounce glass jars. The recalled Artisana Raw Tahini has been distributed nationwide through retail locations and online stores. Those who have purchased the product may return it to place of purchase for a full refund. (more…)

Another recall linked to potential Salmonella contamination has been announced. TotalRecallInfo.com wrote that The Texas Company, a manufacturer of coffee and spices, recalled some of its red pepper products.

The Salmonella pathogen 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 who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and other immune system compromising diseases. (more…)

Ocean Mist Farms just announced a voluntary recall of about 1,746 cases of Iceless Green Onions over concerns surrounding Salmonella contamination. Federal regulators confirmed a positive test for the pathogen on Iceless Green Onions supplied by Circle Produce to several shippers, including Ocean Mist Farms, it said. No Ocean Mist Farms green onions have been identified as contaminated.

The Salmonella pathogen 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 who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and other immune system compromising diseases. (more…)

Melon Acres just announced the recall of cantaloupes that were distributed through Farm-Wey Produce of Lakeland, Florida due to potential health concerns related to contamination with the Salmonella pathogen. The recall was issued following a testing on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that revealed one of a sample of twenty cantaloupes taken by the FDA tested positive for Salmonella.

The FDA said it reported the positive test to Melon Acres on Friday, August 21, 2009. The cantaloupes were shipped August 13th and 14th and were identified as 41 MG 10, Bin Numbers 4753-4980. These bins were distributed to Aldi’s in Greenwood, Indiana and Meijer in Lansing, Michigan; Newport, Michigan; and Tipp City, Ohio. (more…)

Sprouts are in the news again for a potential Salmonella contamination. It seems onion and alfalfa sprouts are the likely suspects in spreading a rare Salmonella subtype that has sickened 12 people in Canada. The illnesses affected people in Ontario and Alberta, specifically, and have been reported since April, said the Canadian Cattlemen.

On August 9, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a health hazard alert for the Brantford, Ontario firm of Sprouts Alive and Sunsprout brand onion sprouts and mixed onion/alfalfa sprouts, said the Canadian Cattlemen. Sunsprout Natural Foods distributed the affected sprouts. (more…)

Potentially Salmonella-tainted green onions are being recalled by California-based NewStar Fresh Foods. The affected green onions were sold under the brand names Omo and Fu Choy.

Although it is likely that the jumbo green onions are now beyond their usable life, NewStar Fresh Foods said the recall is being issued out of an abundance of caution for in the possible event some consumers might have purchased the green onions and still have the product in their home refrigerators. (more…)

We have been following the ongoing recalls and Salmonella-related sicknesses allegedly linked to Fresno, California’s Meat Packers Inc. Now, the Associated Press (AP) reports that Meat Packers Inc. received animal handling citations last year when it underwent a government review of such plants, according to official records.

Meat packing plants were reviewed following the largest beef recall in history, which was connected to a slaughterhouse in southern California, said the AP. As a result, Meat Packers Inc. and 17 other meat packing plants known to sell meat to the National School Lunch program were reviewed. (more…)

Adams Extract and Spice, LLC. just announced a voluntary recall of products over concerns they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The products contain a specific lot of ground red pepper supplied by Van de Vries Spice Corporation (located at 9 Elkins Road, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816).

This lot of ground red pepper initially tested negative for salmonella; however, subsequently, Adams Extract and Spice, LLC. was informed that another sample drawn from the same lot was confirmed positive for Salmonella. (more…)

Beef Packers, Inc., of Fresno, California, is recalling about 825,769 pounds of ground beef products that may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just announced. The recall is a Class I, which means this is a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

The recalled ground beef was produced on various dates ranging from June 5, 2009 through June 23, 2009; all products bear the establishment number “EST. 31913″ printed on the case code labels. The products subject to recall include: (more…)