CVS Recalls Herbal Tea Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
CVS Pharmacy has issued a recall announcement for select cases of Gold Emblem Abound Organic Spiced Herbal Tea. The tea manufacturer notified the company that the product is potentially contaminated with Salmonella, triggering the recall.
The manufacturer’s raw material supplier reported that one of its ingredients had tested positive for Salmonella in another company’s product. The recalled tea also contains this ingredient.
The recall affects products with the following details:
- “Gold Emblem Abound Organic Spiced Herbal Tea 1.41 oz”
- Packaged in 1.4 oz cartons
- Single best by date of 18 Mar 2018
- UPC code 0 50428 541043
The recall does not affect packages with any other “best by” dates are affected. CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide sold the recalled product. The company has approximately 9,600 retail locations nationwide.
Prior to the recall announcement, about 200 units of the recalled product were sold. The Company reported that it is not currently aware of any cases of salmonellosis related to this product and “has issued this voluntary recall as a matter of precaution.”
CVS Pharmacy “has removed the affected products from its stores and the manufacturer has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” A mechanism called a “do not sell” block – essentially, a code that won’t let the cash register system scan the recalled product for sale – has also been placed in the Company’s store register system to prevent further sale of the recalled tea.
Salmonella
Each year, Salmonella poisoning is estimated to cause approximately 1,000,000 illnesses, 19,000 hospitalizations and 380 deaths each year in the United States.
The onset of Salmonella symptoms typically occurs between 12 and 72 hours after a person is initially infected by the bacteria. The duration of the illness is typically four to seven days; most people do not need outside medical help to aid in recovery, one of the major factors contributing to the fact that only 3% of Salmonella cases are actually reported.
Symptoms of salmonella include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. In select cases, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient requires hospitalization. These severe cases sometimes involve what is referred to as a “septic” infection, meaning that the bacteria has spread from the gastrointestinal system to the bloodstream and other body sites.
Septic infections may lead to death without proper antibiotic treatment. Children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most likely to develop severe illnesses.
If you or a family member have otherwise been adversely affected by food poisoning, please fill out our case evaluation form or call us toll-free at 1-888-335-4901. One of our attorneys will contact you to discuss your potential case at no cost to you.
