Earlier this week, at least three lots of MDH’s sambar masala were withdrawn from the US market after the regulator, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) conducted tests that revealed that the products contained salmonella.
“This product was tested by FDA through a certified laboratory to be positive for salmonella,” stated the US Food and Drug Authority (US FDA) in an official release on the move. “The recall was initiated after it was discovered by the FDA that the salmonella contaminated products were distributed,” it added.
House Of Spices (India) Issues Recall of "MDH Sambar Masala" Due To Salmonella Contamination https://t.co/OGHVhYF13O pic.twitter.com/bqht69KZqY
— U.S. FDA (@FDArecalls) September 9, 2019
However, whether the recall was voluntary or not is not specified in the statement. Salmonella is a bacteria that causes a common foodborne illness called salmonellosis, with symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever.
According to the FDA, most people recover from this illness without treatment. However, in some cases where the patient is suffering from high fever, aches, headaches, severe diarrhoea lethargy, rash, blood in the urine or stool. In some cases, the illness may even become fatal.
“Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness,” The Indian Express quoted the FDA as saying.
R-Pure Agro Specialities manufactured the recalled lots and US-based supplier ‘House of Spices’ sold them. They were distributed in northern California retail stores. R-Pure has the same directors on its board as MDH. There is no clarity on whether or not the R-Pure manufactured MDH products for US markets being sold in India. The US FDA had raised the issue previously too. Between 2016 and 2018, the regulator had detained imports of its spice products in more than 20 instances.
