Basic Food Flavors Knew of Salmonella Contamination Before Recall, FDA Says

Posted on Mar 23, 2010 in 4 Feature Area, Food Poisoning, Main Feature Area, Salmonella

HVP, or hydrolyzed vegetable protein, is a common flavor enhancer used in many products from hot dogs to salad dressings. HVP contaminated with Salmonella was recalled about a month ago by Basic Food Flavors, Inc. of Las Vegas, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

More than 150 products from frozen foods to ready-to-eat meals have been added to the list since the recall was first announced. An FDA report issued March 4 shows that Basic Food Flavors was aware of Salmonella contamination in their Las Vegas, Nevada facility as early as January 2010 and continued to produce HVP without taking proper corrective action. According to the report:

“After receiving the first private laboratory analytical results … dated 1/21/2010 indicating the presence of Salmonella in your facility, you continued to distribute HVP paste and powder products until 2/15/2010.  Furthermore, from 1/21/2010 to 2/20/2010, you continued to manufacture HVP paste and powder products under the same processing conditions that did not minimize microbial contamination.”

The FDA learned of the contamination  through a customer of Basic Food Flavors, who tested the received ingredient and found it positive for Salmonella and then reported it, according to  Dr. Jeff Farrar, the FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Food Protection. The recalled HVP includes lots produced as early as September 2009, which means “The potential amount of product that could have been covered under this recall is quite large,” Farrar said in a media conference. FDA officials suspect a large portion of the recalled product received a “kill step” somewhere along the processing line. This means even if contaminated HVP was shipped to one of Basic Food Flavors’ customers and mixed into a food product, most of those food products were cooked under the types of conditions that would kill any Salmonella present in the original HVP.

Salmonella Infection: What consumers can do

1. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) may include diarrhea (often bloody), fever, abdominal pain, dehydration and other general flu-like symptoms.
2. If you suspect you may have a Salmonella infection, visit your doctor and have yourself tested for Salmonella.
3. Avoid Salmonella infection by

• Staying informed about Salmonella recalls and Salmonella outbreaks
• Properly cooking and preparing food at home. For tips see FoodSafety.gov

Tags: Salmonella Lawsuit, Salmonella Tennessee, Salmonellosis