SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, has announced that consumers should avoid eating spices manufactured by Union International Food Co.
White and black pepper products from the company's Union City facility in the Bay Area have been associated with an outbreak of Salmonella that has sickened 42 people in four states, including 33 in California. No deaths have been reported.
The illnesses among California residents have occurred in 15 counties in Central and Northern California. The latest known onset of illness occurred March 13.
A high proportion of those who have become sick had eaten at Asian restaurants which were found by environmental health specialists to be using black and/or white pepper purchased from Union International Food Co.
Union International Food Co. has initiated a voluntary recall of pepper and all other similar spice products repackaged in its facility. These products do not bear lot codes and were sold primarily to distributors and restaurants in California and Oregon. The products are packaged under the Lian How brand name in various sized containers. Following the Lian How brand name, the wording "Packed by Union International Foods" or "Union International Foods" appears.
The following products are included in the recall:
- White pepper
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Paprika
- Chopped onion
- Onion powder
- Garlic – chopped, minced, powder and granulated
- Whole white pepper
- Whole black pepper
- Curry powder
- Mustard powder
- Wasabi powder
