Robert's recalls Salmonella affected Snack food, shuts production

An organic snack food company, Robert's American Gourmet on Thursday issued a voluntary nationwide recall of its popular Veggie Booty Snack Food due to fears of salmonella contamination.

In a release, the Sea Cliff, New York-based snack food company said it has issued the recall after being notified of 51 cases of salmonella poisoning across 17 states by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC).

The Veggie Booty Snack Food manufacturer said the product under recall was distributed nationwide and also in Canada through retail outlets, Internet sales, local distributors, mail orders and phone orders, and was sold in flexible plastic foil bags in 4 ounce, 1 ounce and half-ounce portions.

All lots and sizes of Veggie Booty Snack Food with brand name Robert's American Gourmet and all codes and expiration dates are under recall, Robert's said in its release.

"The investigation is ongoing at the company and we have ceased production and distribution of the product pending results of the investigation by the FDA and the company," the company said.

US health watchdog has warned consumers not to eat Veggie Booty Snack Food due to possible contamination with Salmonella Wandsworth, bacteria that cause gastrointestinal illness.

Salmonella is a kind of rod-shaped Gram-negative enterobacteria that causes typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever and food-borne illnesses like bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, weak or aged people, and others with deteriorated immune systems.

There are nearly 2,500 kinds of salmonella. Salmonella outbreaks take place in tomatoes periodically. A 2004 outbreak that sickened more than 400 people was linked to tomatoes sold in Sheetz convenience stores.

The Veggie Booty Snack Food contamination affected mostly the children under 10 years of age, especially toddlers or infants.

According to the FDA, at least 51 cases of salmonella poisoning have been reported by 17 states, including California (seven cases), Colorado (five cases), Connecticut (one case), Georgia (one case), Indiana (one case), Massachusetts (three cases), Minnesota (two cases), New Hampshire (two cases), New Jersey (two cases), New York (13 cases), Oregon (one case), Pennsylvania (three cases), Tennessee (one), Texas (one), Vermont (three cases), Washington (four cases), and Wisconsin (two cases).

FDA learned of the latest outbreak of salmonella on June 27 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which along with state and local health officials conducted an investigation of the illnesses.

Although, no Veggie Booty-related deaths have been reported, but the company said it has ceased the manufacturing and distribution of the product.

Robert's has urged the consumers who still have the product in their homes to discard the contents, and contact the company at 1-800-626-7557 for reimbursement.