UBC Food Distributors Recalls Black Pepper Product Due to Salmonella
A Dearborn, Michigan-based company is recalling its Ground Black Pepper Product due to Salmonella concerns.
On Monday, UBC Food Distributors announced the recall of its Baraka brand Ground Black Pepper, after testing revealed the presence of Salmonella bacteria in the product.
Regarding the recalled Ground Black Pepper, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared that “… it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.”
The presence of Salmonella bacteria was first discovered after routine testing operated by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets found Salmonella in some of the 7 ounce packages of Baraka Ground Black Pepper. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development then immediately notified UBC Food Distributors, who then ceased production of the Ground Black Pepper product.
“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,” the FDA publication read.
For identification, the FDA shared that the recalled Ground Black Pepper product comes packaged in a clear, 7 ounce, plastic package that bears its expiration date of January, 2026 on the back of it.
While no illnesses have been confirmed as being directly related to the presence of Salmonella in this product, consumers are strongly encouraged to report all adverse reactions post consuming any foods, particularly Baraka Ground Black Pepper. Ill individuals should first contact their personal healthcare provider, and then report the incident to their local public health safety officials. The latter may be done by calling the FDA’s Consumer Complaint Coordinators, whose numbers may be found at this site, listed by state.
