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Salmonella Tennessee Identified in a Processed Food Ingredient
March 5, 2010 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to protect the public following the early identification of Salmonella Tennessee in one company’s supply of hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP). This is a common ingredient used most frequently as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods, including soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressings.
In coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, other federal agencies and state health departments, the FDA is closely monitoring and assessing the potential risks of illness from affected products.
“Our investigators were able to identify this problem before any illnesses occurred,” said FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg. “While the investigation is continuing, the agency is supporting reasonable steps to continue to protect the public health.”
The manufacturer of the affected product is Basic Food Flavors, Inc. in Las Vegas, Nev. Only HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors is involved in this recall. The FDA conducted an investigation at the facility after a customer of Basic Food
Flavors reported finding Salmonella Tennessee in one production lot of HVP to the new FDA Reportable Food Registry. The FDA collected and analyzed samples at the facility and confirmed the presence of Salmonella Tennessee in the company’s processing equipment. The company is recalling all hydrolyzed vegetable protein in powder and paste form that it has produced since Sept. 17, 2009.
At this time, there are no known illnesses associated with this contamination.
At this time, the FDA is taking several steps to instruct industry and protect consumers from potential Salmonella infection.
The FDA is advising the industry that the recalled bulk HVP product should be destroyed or reconditioned according to FDA-approved procedures. The FDA is also recommending recalls of certain products that might be eaten by consumers without any processing or cooking steps to address the potential risk.
The FDA is recommending that consumers should:
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea that may be blood, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Most healthy people recover from Salmonella infections within four to seven days without treatment.
In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses, such as arterial infections (infected aneurysms), infection of the lining of the heart and arthritis.
For more information on the HVP recall and the products affected, please visit:
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