Massive Packaged Food Recall Hits U.S.

Affected Foods

The tainted ingredient at the center of this spate of recalls is a flavoring known as hydrolyzed vegetable protein. It’s added to prepared sauces, soups, dips, snacks, hot dogs and other prepared foods and meals, and an investigation into the contamination of certain food products was tracked back to Las Vegas-based company Basic Food Flavors.

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which can contain monosodium glutamate, or MSG, may also show up in package ingredients lists as “natural flavor,” according to truthinlabeling.org. However, the Food and Drug Administration is updating its list of specific recalled foods with the tainted ingredient as soon as the products are identified.

Photo Credit: vauvau

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that comes from the digestive tract of animals as well as humans, and can cause serious infections in the very young, old and weak. For people who are in better shape, salmonella bacteria can cause nausea, stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea.

In this case, the bacteria was found in hydrolyzed vegetable protein powder and paste and on Basic Food Flavors processing equipment, according to the FDA, which says the contamination has not led to any illnesses.

“Our investigators were able to identify this problem before any illnesses occurred," said the FDA.

Here are some of the grocery items you should discard if they’re in your kitchen.

Photo Credit: nutloaf

Veggie Dip

T. Marzetti-brand Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip (full fat and fat-free versions)

Size: 15.5-ounce plastic tubs of full-fat version; 13-ounce plastic tubs of fat-free version

Best-by dates: APR2010F, APR2810F, MAY1610F, MAY3110F, JUN0610F, JUN1410F, JUN1910F, and the UPC number 70200 52004 for full-fat, and MAY1610F, MAY3010F, JUN0810F, JUN1210F, JUN2510F and the UPC number 70200 52033 for fat free.

Photo Credit: marzetti.com

Spinach Veggie Dip

T. Marzetti-brand Spinach Veggie Dip

Size: 15-ounce plastic tubs or 340-gram plastic tubs

Best-by dates: APR1910F, MAY0910F, JUN0710F and the UPC number 70200 52059 or 10AL11F, 10AL17F, 10AL24F, 10AL30F, 10MA08F, 10JN12F and the UPC number 70200 58843.

Photo Credit:marzetti.com

French Onion Dip

Oak Lake Farms French onion dip

Size: 16-ounce plastic tubs

Best-by dates: APR2310F, JUN1110F, JUN2610F and UPC number 73534 43480

Photo Credit: VirtualErn

Ranch Chip Dip

Great Value brand Ranch Chip Dip made by T. Marzetti

Size: 16-ounce plastic tubs

Best-by dates: 042810F, 050810F, 052910F, 053010F, 053110F, 060410F, 060510F, 061110F and UPC number 78742 43099.

Photo Credit: Brad.K

Au Jus

French Dip Powdered Au Jus from Johnny’s Fine Foods

Size: Six-ounce bottles and 1.1-ounce foil packets

Best-by dates: listed as “0332” and “02212” respectively.

Photo Credit: fda.gov

Chicken Soup Base

Castella brand Chicken Soup Base

Size: One-pound plastic jars and 25-pound white buckets.

Lot numbers: 0912039918, 1001121915, 1002013074, and 1002194266 with the expiration dates 12-3-2010 through 2-28-2011 and lot numbers 0911259508, 0911259508A, 0912150738, 0912180973, 0912211087, 1001192342, 1001282925, 1002194267 with the expiration dates 11-25-2010 through 2-28-2011 and the UPC numbers 7 50144 33000 5 or 7 501144 3320 9.

Photo Credit: fda.gov

Onion Rings and Chips

Various packages of Tim's Cascade Snacks Sweet Maui Onion flavored chips and onion rings.

For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov.

Photo Credit: fda.gov

Ranch Dressing

Follow Your Heart Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing by Earth Island

Size: 128-ounce containers

Best-by dates: JUN 14 10, UPC number 0-49568-66128-5.

Photo Credit: whitneyinchicago

Ranch Dressing & Dip

Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing & Dip by Earth Island

Size: 12-ounce container

Best-by dates: JUN 13 10, UPC number 0069-6890

Photo Credit: whitneyinchicago

Wal-Mart Dips

Dips sold as Wal-Mart (Stock Quote: WMT) store-brand items as well as those with a Reser’s label, include ranch, clam, French onion, cheese and bacon, and redskin potato.

For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov.

Photo Credit: resers.com

Bouillon

Herb Ox beef, chicken and vegetable bouillons

Sizes: 1.13-ounce, 4-ounce, 7.05-ounce packages.

For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov.

Photo Credit: hormelfoods.com

McCormick Products

French onion and vegetable dips, onion gravy mix and cornbread stuffing mix

UPC numbers: 52100168609, 52100063850, 52100098807 and 5210057199.

For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov.

Photo Credit: mccormick.com

Honey Mustard Pretzel Bites and Nuggets

These were made by National Pretzel Company and sold under several names as well as Safeway (Stock Quote: SWY) and CVS (Stock Quote: CVS) store brands.

For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov.

Photo Credit: j.reed

Tortilla Soup

Homemade Gourmet brand Tortilla Soup Mix

Size: 1.96-ounce packages

Best-by dates: S1004812411 and S1004912111, sold 2/17/2010 through 3/1/2010.

Photo Credit: fda.gov

Garlic Pasta

Follow Your Heart brand Cheezy Garlic Pasta made by Earth Island

Size: 8-ounce containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/06/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01006-9.

Photo Credit: littlebluehen

Chicken Pasta

Follow Your Heart Smoked "Chicken" Pasta from Earth Island

Size: 8-ounce and 7-pound containers

Best-by dates: Use By: 11/10/09 through 03/14/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01076-2 or 11/10/09 through 03/14/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04076-9.

Photo Credit: balise42

Heartsmart Burgers

Follow Your Heart Heartsmart Burger from Earth Island

Size: 7-ounce containers

Best-by dates: Use By: 11/10/09 through 03/19/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01098-4.

Photo Credit: followyorheart.com

Veggie Burritos

Follow Your Heart Veggie Burrito with Cheese from Earth Island

Size: 12-ounce containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/05/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01070-0.

Photo Credit: norwichnuts

Peanut Tofu

Thai Peanut Tofu, Thai Peanut Tofu Wrap, Thai Peanut Braised Tofu

Size: 10-ounce package tofu by itself, 12 ounce wrap, 8-pound braised tofu containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01028-1; 11/10/09 through 03/11/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01034-2 and 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04407-1.

Photo Credit: Laurel Fan

Braised Tofu

Follow Your Heart Braised Tofu

Size: 10-ounce and 8-pound containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 for the smaller and 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 for the larger packages, and UPC numbers 0-49568-07025-4 and 0-49568-01001-4.

Photo Credit: stu spivack

Curry Tofu

Follow Your Heart brand Curried Tofu with Rice made by Earth Island

Size: 7-pound containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04011-0 or 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04011-0.

Photo Credit: avlxyz

Tofu Sauté

Follow Your Heart Savory Tofu Sauté Earth Island

Size: 7-pound containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/10/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04014-1.

Photo Credit: rick

Kung Pao Tofu

Follow Your Heart Kung Pao Tofu and Kung Pao Tofu with Rice

Size: 10-ounce and 7-pound containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 UPC 0-49568-01023-6; 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 UPC 0-49568-04003-5.

Photo Credit: ricardo.martins

Savory Tofu Sauté

Follow Your Heart

Size: 10-ounce and 7-pound containers

Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/10/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01038-0; 11/10/09 through 03/10/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04014-1.

Photo Credit: YoAmes

Sweet and Sour Tofu

Follow Your Heart Sweet & Sour Tofu from Earth Island

Size: 7 pound containers

Best-by dates: Use By: 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04430-9.

Photo Credit: Lizard10979

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