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Uncle Chen and Lian How Brand Dry Spice Product Recall

US Food and Drug Administration

By News Staff Member
Sunday, April 5, 2009

Union City, CA — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public to a voluntary recall by Union International Food Company, Union City, California, of the company's dry spice products. The recall is based on an investigation of an ongoing food borne illness outbreak of Salmonella Rissen. This investigation is being conducted in collaboration with state health officials in California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The company's products are distributed in these states and Arizona.

See product list below. Product labels may be seen at this link.

Forty-two cases of Salmonella Rissen infection have been reported to the CDC by health officials in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Most of the reported cases (33) are in California.

Salmonella 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. Individuals who are experiencing these symptoms should contact a doctor immediately or go to an emergency room for evaluation.

Officials are investigating a multi-state Salmonella outbreak isolated Salmonella from an open container of Lian How White Pepper, which was found at a restaurant where some outbreak victims ate. Union International Food Co. is making every possible effort to protect our customers and the consuming public. We have discussed the matter with the California Department of Public Health and agreed to initiate a recall.

The Uncle Chen and Lian How brand spices are distributed in the states of California, Oregon and Washington to wholesalers, distributors, restaurant suppliers and restaurants. The Lian How brand products are packaged in 10- or 15-pound boxes with plastic liners, 5-pound plastic jars or 5-pound plastic bags. The Lian How crushed chili is sold in 30-pound boxes, 8-pound boxes and 3-pound plastic jars. The Lian How brand products are not generally sold directly to the retail consumer. The Uncle Chen brand white and black pepper products (whole or ground) are sold at retail in 5-ounce containers. The Uncle Chen brand white pepper (whole or ground) is sold in 5-pound plastic bags. The Uncle Chen brand Wasabi powder is sold in 2.2-pound foil bags. Only the products on the attached list are included in this recall.

Union International Foods Company has ceased the production and distribution of these products as the US FDA, the California Department of Public Health and Union International Foods Co. continue the investigation as to nature and full extent of this potential contamination.

Wholesalers and Distributors of these products are instructed to immediately place the recalled merchandise on hold and immediately withdraw any product from sale or distribution. Wholesalers and Distributors must immediately alert their customers of the recall and arrange for the return to Union International Foods Co. of the recalled goods. Contact your usual Union International Foods Co. representative to arrange for return of the recalled goods. End users and consumers are instructed to immediately suspend use of the products in their possession and return them either to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them in the trash.

For updated information or questions about the ongoing investigation, contact the Union International Food Company information line at (510) 471-6799 or the company website.