FDA Report Says Basic Food Flavors Knew HVP Cntained Salmonella

Basic Food Flavors knew its hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) was contaminated with Salmonella but continued to ship the product for a month before recalling it, according to an FDA report.

The FDA announced the recall of HVP on March 4, after its tests had confirmed the presence of Salmonella on equipment at Basic Food’s Las Vegas, Nev., plant in mid-February, and after the company agreed to issue a voluntary recall.

According to company records, Basic Food learned that samples from its plant had tested positive for Salmonella on January 21. The documents said that the company conducted tests, twice in January and once in February, finding Salmonella on all three occasions, but did not issue a product recall or take any steps to minimize the risk of contamination.

The FDA was notified of a possible contamination at the facility in February through its online Reportable Food Registry, after a Basic Food’s customer found the pathogen in HVP by routine testing. The agency then carried out its own inspections, starting February 12, which also came back positive for Salmonella.

Read the full story by Caroline Scott-Thomas at Food Production Daily.