RECALL: UBC Food Distributors Recalls Baraka Brand Ground Black Pepper Spice Because of Possible Health Risk Announcement
Dear Partners,
Please review the following recall below, check your inventory for affected products, and take necessary action.
Post this recall notice where those accessing your organization can see it (e.g., bulletin board, website, social media).
If you are not the most appropriate person to receive this notice, please forward this communication to the responsible representative at your organization. To ensure recalls are sent to the appropriate person in the future, feel free to respond to this email with other email addresses that should receive them.
Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Company Announcement
UBC Food Distributors in Dearborn Michigan is recalling the Ground Black Pepper under the Baraka brand name in 7oz plastic containers 7oz * 10 With UPC code 8 22514 26626 6 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, 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.
The recalled “black pepper” were distributed nationwide in retail stores.
The product comes in a 7 ounce, clear plastic package marked with expiration date of January 2026 on the back of the label.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
The potential for contamination was noted after the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) notified us of the contamination based on a routine state surveillance sample collected by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets that tested positive for Salmonella the presence of Salmonella in some 7 ounce packages of Ground Black Pepper.
Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.
Consumers who have purchased 7-ounce container of ground black pepper are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 313-846-8117 Monday to Friday between 9 am to 5 pm.
Company Contact Information
Consumers:
313-846-8117
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* We believe that none of the product being recalled were processed or offered through the national office
* We strongly encourage you to notify your agencies within one business day from receipt of this notice.
* ALL cased and uncased inventories, both at the member level and agency level, need to be checked. This product may have entered member and agency warehouses through salvage, local donations, TEFAP, local purchases, retail pickups, food drives, or other avenues.
* For additional local details, please contact the Health Department(s) for the area(s) your food bank serves.
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About Feeding America Recall Notices
The Feeding America national office issues notifications of all national Class I and II recalls–those involving a health hazard situation in which there is reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death–and other recalls that may affect the safety of food supplied to network members.
The national office strongly encourages all member product solicitors, operations managers, and others involved in food and grocery distribution to regularly consult resources provided by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/index.asp. Additionally, members can often receive information on national, state, and local recalls by contacting their local health departments.
Feeding America National Office
Feeding America
161 N Clark, Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60601