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Snack Mixes, Cashews Recalled for Salmonella

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Another company that gets its pepper from Mincing Overseas Spice Company recalled several of its own products over the weekend for possible Salmonella contamination.

Elgin, IL-based John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., a publicly traded company, has recalled some of its snack mix and cashew products because they are seasoned with black pepper supplied by New Jersey-based Mincing.
 
Mincing is one of two pepper suppliers for Rhode Island-based Daniele International Inc., which has recalls out for about 1.4 million pounds of its ready-to-eat meats that have been associated with a Salmonella Montevideo outbreak in 44 states and the District of Columbia.
 
Investigations by the State of Rhode Island and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration turned up the outbreak strain in both red and black peppers supplied to Daniele for coating its Italian-style salami.
 
In a statement, Sanfilippo & Son said it was recalling product that included the Mincing ingredient as a "precautionary measure."  The recall includes Louisiana Cajun Mix sold in self-serve bins in Fisher Outlet Stores under the Fisher Brand in Northern Illinois.
 
Also included in the recall are products sold under the Archer Farms Brand and sold exclusively in Target stores are:  9.5 oz Sweet Cajun Mix; 11.5 oz Salt and Pepper Cashews; 26 oz. Tex Mex Trail Mix; and 28.5 oz Sweet Cajun Trail Mix.  The company press release includes best buy dates and the various product codes.
 
Brooklyn-based Wholesome Spice is the other company that supplied pepper to Daniele Inc.   It has its own pepper recall underway.  A half-dozen downstream companies from Mincing and Wholesome have had to recall products that included pepper as an ingredient.
 
Consumers who purchased either the Fisher or Archer products are advised not to consume them, but rather return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund or replacement.
 
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially for young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.
 
Symptoms of Salmonella infection are:  fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, and vomiting and abdominal pain.
 
Sometimes infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
 
Consumers or customers who have questions about the above recall may contact John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Customer Service toll-free at (800) 874-8734 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Central Daylight Time. Consumers, who have questions about the ARCHER FARMS items only, may also contact Target Guest Relations toll-free at (800) 316-6151.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on March 22, 2010 (boomark / email).