Fear of Salmonella Contamination Triggers Cilantro Recall

• Date: December 15, 2010
• Source: Admin

The recall was issued because salmonella contamination was feared. The contamination was detected in a routine surveillance sample at a distributor in California. Consumers have been advised to discard or return the recalled product to the seller and collect the refund due to them.

Salmonella Infection

Symptoms of infection include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis are possible complications induced by salmonella.  The symptoms could prove fatal in children, people with a weakened immune system and the elderly. Thus the recall qualifies as a Class I recall

Recent Incidents

Mojave Foods Corporation has recalled sixty (60) packages of El Guapo Nuez Entera / Shelled Walnuts (1 Oz) bearing the date code 5527 and UPC 4498933144, following receipt of an advice from its walnut supplier, Atlas Walnuts, California. This is a Class I Recall. The recall was initiated because Salmonella contamination was feared. There have been no reported cases of infection so far, though. The recalled product was distributed only in southern California. Consumers have been advised to destroy the recalled product.

Regulations

Manufacturers of defective products voluntarily carry out most recalls which are regulated by FDA. Alternatively, the FDA may find a product defective and instruct the manufacturer concerned to recall the product. If the company does not recall the product, the FDA can seek legal action under the FD&C Act.  These include seizure of the available stock of the product, and/or injunction of the firm, including a court-issued direction for recall of the product.

Moreover, products that contain an allergenic ingredient by design must comply with section 403(i) (2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), which requires each ingredient in a food to be declared. Processing aids that contain allergenic ingredients must be declared in accordance with 21 CFR 101.4(a) (1). Production practices that lead to unintentional addition of allergens to food may be considered insanitary conditions that may render the food injurious to health and cause the food product to be adulterated under section 402(a)(4) of the Act.

Additionally, there is Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA). FALCPA addresses the labeling of all packaged foods regulated by the FDA.