Salmonella Risk Prompts 4th Massive Food Recall

Recall nos. 37  – 42 since March 5, 2010

1.7 million pounds of RTE Beef and Chicken Products Recalled

Texas Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Beef Taquito and Chicken Quesadilla Products due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

CLASS I RECALL
HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Windsor Foods, a firm with operations in Lampasas, Texas, and Oakland, Miss., is recalling approximately 1.7 million pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef taquito and chicken quesadilla products that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The packages of beef taquito and chicken quesadilla products contain as an ingredient the specific Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), which was previously recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of the HVP product on March 4, 2010. A recall of the ready-to-eat taquito and quesadilla products containing the HVP was warranted due to the determination that the HVP ingredient was added after Salmonella prevention steps were applied.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall should contact the company at (877) 653-2181.

USDA Recall Classifications: Class I Recall
This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

Recall # 38. Texas Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Beef Product due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

CLASS I RECALL
HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Ruiz Foods, Inc., a Denison, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 115,700 pounds of a ready-to-eat (RTE) beef product that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The packages of beef product contain as an ingredient the specific Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), which was previously recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Due to potential Salmonella contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of the HVP product on March 4, 2010. A recall of the beef product was warranted because the HVP ingredient was added after Salmonella prevention steps were applied.

• 8.4 ounce boxes of “TORNADOS RANCHERO BEEF & CHEESE.”

Consumers with questions regarding the recall should contact the company’s Consumer Line at 1-800-SPANISH or 1-800-772-6474 .

Recall # 39. Ohio Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Bacon Base Product Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

CLASS I RECALL
HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Nestlé Professional North America, a Cleveland, Ohio establishment, is recalling approximately 6,000 pounds of a ready-to-eat (RTE) bacon base product that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The packages of bacon base contain as an ingredient the specific Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), which was previously recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Due to potential Salmonella contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of the HVP product on March 4, 2010. Although the HVP has already been recalled, as announced by FDA, the bacon base product packages bear the USDA mark of inspection on the outside of the case. A recall of this product was warranted due to the determination that the HVP ingredient was added after Salmonella prevention steps were applied.

• 1-lb. plastic cups of “MINOR’S BACON BASE.”

Consumers with questions regarding the recall should contact the company Customer Services at (800) 243-8822.

Recall # 40. Orval Kent Food Company, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Culinary Circle Dips Due to Possible Health Risk

The Orval Kent dips are being recalled because they contain HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein) manufactured, distributed and recalled by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., Las Vegas, NV.

Consumers who have recently purchased the items listed below should not consume this product and should return it the store of purchase for a full refund or replacement.

Consumer Contact Information:
Consumers with questions may contact SUPERVALU Customer Service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 877 932 7948.

Recall # 41. Austinuts Of Dallas, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of Honey Mustard Pretzels

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dallas, Texas – March 10, 2010 – Austinuts of Dallas, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall for

Honey Mustard Pretzels,
Lot number 61150/0280

because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The Austinuts Honey Mustard Pretzels were only distributed at Austinuts’ building sales in Dallas, Texas in 16 ounce clear zipper bags. Consumers having any of these products are urged to destroy them.

NO OTHER AUSTINUTS’ PRODUCTS ARE PART OF THIS RECALL. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection to the above product.

The pretzels were manufactured by National Pretzel Company of Lancaster, PA and were coated with a seasoning mix that included hydrolyzed vegetable protein recalled by Basic Food Flavors, Las Vagas, NV because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Consumers with any other recall questions may contact Austinuts of Dallas, Inc. (214) 739-6887 during normal business hours, Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Central Time. Consumers with questions or concerns about their health should contact their doctor immediately.

Recall # 42. McCormick Recall Due to Possible Health Risk from HVP Ingredient Expands to Include Additional “Best By” Dates

McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC) is expanding a March 5, 2010 recall to include additional “Best By” dates 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.

Recalled products were distributed nationwide and sold in retail stores.  Two of the recalled products were also distributed for sale in international markets.

Contact the McCormick Consumer Hotline at 1-800-632-5847 or consumer_affairs@mccormick.com for a replacement or reimbursement.  Live assistance is available on the Hotline from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday and 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST on Saturday and Sunday.

E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Recall Notification Report
CLASS I RECALL: Wholesale Level

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2010 – Randolph Packing Co. Inc., an Asheboro, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 96,000 pounds of beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall include:

• Combo bin packages of “Randolph Packing Co., Inc. BONELESS BEEF.”
• Combo bin packages of “Randolph Packing Co. Knuckles 90% & 94%.”
• 30 lbs. boxes of “Beef Ribeye Rolls.”

Each package label bears the establishment number “EST. 6590” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were produced on February 25, 2010, and were distributed to federal establishments for further processing in Ill., Mo., N.Y., Ohio, and Va. None of these products are available directly to consumers.

The problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological sampling.

Related Links:

• Anything Salmonella Free? [March 10]
• More Food Recalls [March 10]
• More Salmonella Food Recalls [March 6]
• Salmonella Infected Additive Prompts Massive Food Recall [March 5]