FDA Announces Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Recall, Salmonella Concerns Cited

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced a recall of many products containing a substance referred to as hydrolyzed vegetable protein. The hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) in these recalled products may be tainted with Salmonella, and the FDA has requested all affected batches of powder and paste HVP be destroyed by the manufacturer.

The FDA is also recommending consumers discard or return potentially affected products to stores, and to keep abreast of a growing list of food items concerned. The manufacturer of the HVP in question is listed as Basic Food Flavors, based in Las Vegas, and makes hydrolyzed vegetable protein that ends up in thousands of packages of food all over the country.

The batches of HVP, a common flavor booster in many packaged food items, possibly affected by the recall include any lots manufactured by Basic Food Flavors as of September 2009. The FDA's recall of Basic Food Flavors brand HVP, and products that may contain the tainted ingredient, comes after a consumer complaint citing positive test results on a Salmonella test. Follow-up testing by FDA officials confirmed the presence of a strain of Salmonella in a batch of the Basic Food HVP, prompting the recall announced yesterday on the food safety council's website.

This new hydrolyzed vegetable protein recall comes on the heels of several troubling food recalls over the last several years, including recalls involving commonly consumed food items such as produce (spinach, tomatoes, green onions) and pantry staples such as peanut butter.

In the FDA's Thursday press release, they reveal the following reaction to ongoing US food recall issues, including the HVP recall, from one of the organization's leading members: "This situation clearly underscores the need for new food safety legislation to equip FDA with the tools we need to prevent contamination," said Dr. Jeff Farrar, associate commissioner for food protection, FDA's Office of Foods.

No reports of any illnesses can be attributed to the salmonella-tainted HVP thus far, but the FDA isn't taking any chances. They are warning the public to keep informed, as items included in the recall are expected to expand.

Some of the specific food items currently being considered as part of this preventative recall include the following:

Castella soup mix products

Homemade Gourmet Soup Mix products

Follow Your Heart pre-packaged meals, dressings and dip mixes

Great Value (Walmart) dip products

Trader Joe's dressing and dressing mixes

Tim's Cascade Snacks - Sweet Maui Onion Kettle potato chips

For a complete list of potentially affected food items, and for more information on this newly-announced FDA food recall regarding hydrolyzed vegetable protein, visit the FDA website. (3/5/2010)

Source:
FDA Press Release - 3/4/2010