
Here we go again. A seemingly random list of recently recalled dips, soups and snacks apparently have a common ingredient—a flavoring agent recalled Thursday by the Food and Drug Association. All the foods contain
hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) paste or powder distributed by Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas. Salmonella has been detected in the plant's processing equipment.
Already 56 foods have been recalled and the FDA anticipates that the list will grow. To keep consumers informed, the agency has created a
searchable database of foods containing the tainted HVP. On the list are dips, dressings and dressing mixes, snacks and snack mixes, soup mixes and some pre-packaged meals. At this writing, no illnesses have been associated with the recall.
The
FDA reported finding salmonella in one production lot of HVP after inspections at Basic Food Flavors following a customer complaint. The agency collected and analyzed samples at the facility and confirmed the presence of Salmonella Tennessee in the company’s processing equipment. The recall includes all hydrolyzed vegetable protein in powder and paste form produced there since Sept. 17, 2009.
“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.
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is a common ingredient used most frequently as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods, including soups, sauces, chili, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressings.
FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg credited the FDA's new
Reportable Food Registry with the discovery. The registry is an electronic portal for the food industry to report incidents when there is reasonable probability that an article of food will cause serious adverse health consequences. Hamburg did not say which of Basic Food Flavors' customers reported the incident.
Like earlier recalls of peanuts, pistachios and powdered milk, HVP is an ingredient used in a wide variety of foods so more recalls will surely follow. As the Food Safety News characterized Basic Food Flavors, "this is a company that uses giant rail cars to move its product."
"This can potentially be in over 10,000 products," Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Union told the Washington Post. So check your cupboard and the recall list often.