Salmonella Tainted Cilantro - Over 6,000 Cartons Recalled, USA

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Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 12 Dec 2011 - 0:00 PST


The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) informs that 6,141 cartons of Cilantro are being recalled after some samples tested positive for Salmonella at distributor level. Pacific International Marketing has issued the recall and the FDA says they and Pacific are liaising closely.

Pacific says the potentially contaminated cartons come in 60, 30 bunches and 20-3 bunched sleeves.

According to Pacific:

"The product is bunched cilantro with Pacific on the twist tie and the UPC code, which is 33383 80104. The UPC code for sleeves is 40695 80104."

The Cilantro has been distributed to retail outlets in Missouri, South Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Massachusetts, Arizona and California.

If you have purchased a recalled cilantro carton, or believe you have, return it to where you bought it for a full refund, the company is informing shoppers. Recalled products were on retail shelves between November 16th and December 10th.

The following carton codes are affected:

• 19 78
  111411
• 19 78
  111811
• 19 84
  111811
• 19 94
  111811
• 19 78
  111911
• 19 84
  111911
• 19 94
  111911

The Cilantro in this recall comes from Salt River Farming, near Phoenix, Arizona. Investigators do not yet know what the source of the contamination is.

The following contact details are available for consumers requiring further information: Telephone: 831 755 1398 (8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. PST)
P.O. Box 373, Salinas, CA 93912-3737.

Photos of product labels:

What is Salmonella and Salmonellosis?

Salmonella is the name for a group of bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, enteric fever, food poisoning, typhoid fever and other illnesses. Salmonellosis means infection and illness with Salmonella. Humans become infected most commonly after consuming tainted water or foods.

The bacterium can cause serious and potentially fatal illness in some susceptible individuals, such as very young children, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. A healthy person who is infected may experience an elevated body temperature (fever), diarrhea (which may sometimes contain blood), nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting.

In some rare cases, the infection can get into the bloodstream, causing more serious complications, such as arterial infections, arthritis, or endocarditis.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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