Health Law

More companies recalling black pepper . . . a little late in the game

By Drew Falkenstein

Yesterday, yet another company announced a recall of products containing black pepper sold by Mincing Overseas Spice Company.  The company that announced yesterday's recall is John B. Sanfilippo and Sons, from Elgin, Illinois.  The FDA's recall notice states as follows:

As a follow up to the voluntary recall of black pepper from Mincing Overseas Spice Company announced on March 5, 2010, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (Nasdaq: JBSS) (the "Company") announced today that it is voluntarily recalling various snack mix and cashew products, which have been flavored with seasoning containing the recalled black pepper and which are listed below, as a precautionary measure because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella

Does Mincing Overseas Spice Company have problems with traceability?  See Delays in Pepper Recalls Threaten Public Health.  Will punitive damages be assessed against Mincing in lawsuits against it in the pepper outbreak?  After all, pepper has been known to have been the source of the large national Salmonella outbreak associated with Daniele Inc. salami since late January.  How many people have needlessly become ill as a result of consuming pepper products that should have been taken out of distribution weeks, if not months, ago?

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on March 20, 2010 (boomark / email).