Salmonella scare: food products recalled cross 100

The recalls started in February when a customer discovered the hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) tainted with salmonella.

HVP is a flavor-enhancer manufactured by Basic Food Flavors of North Las Vegas, Nevada.

As per the inspection report released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Las Vegas, Nevada-based company knew since Jan. 21 that its products were contaminated with salmonella but it continued selling products.

Products recalled
After reports that HVP is contaminated with acute bacteria, more than 100 products containing the flavoring agent have been called back by various companies.

These products include wide variety of processed foods like potato chips, salads, dips and dressings, soups, sauces, hot dogs, and chilies, among others.

FDA has advised people to continuously check its Web site to know about the various products that are being recalled.

To illustrate, Windsor Foods, a firm with operations in Lampasas, Texas, and Oakland Mississippi, has recalled ready-to-eat beef taquito and chicken quesadilla.

P&G has called back its two flavors of Pringles.

Further, Herr has recalled its Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored' Kettle Style Potato Chips.

Even Nestle Professional North America of Cleveland, Ohio has called back its ready-to-eat bacon-based product under the ‘Minor’s Bacon Base’ label.

Explaining the recall, Michael Doyle, director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, stated, “It’s a wake-up call for the food industry as a whole to be more thorough in evaluating the safety of ingredients.”

FDA’s recommendations
Salmonella is an acute bacterial infection and it poses a lot of threat to life. But so far, no illness associated with problem of contamination has been reported.

Nonetheless, FDA has advised people to continuously check its Web site to know about the various products that are being recalled.

A statement on its site reads, “Don't eat recalled food! Check these recalled product lists carefully. If you have a product on the list, review the recall notice and follow the manufacturer's instructions for disposing of the product safely."

Further, it states that people should carefully follow cooking instructions for all the foods.

In case any symptoms related to food illness appear, citizens should immediately report to health care professionals.

The symptoms of salmonella include painful gaseous feeling in the intestines followed by severe bouts of diarrhea, and dehydration.

Due to the salmonella infection, victim can also suffer from fever. In most severe cases, it may convert to typhoid lasting one to four weeks.