This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that multiple products made by McCormick & Company. have been voluntarily recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning has also been recalled. The four products included in the recall are:
McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, 1.31-ounce bottleMcCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, 2.25-ounce bottleMcCormick Culinary Italian Seasoning, 1.75-pound bottleFrank’s RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning, 153-gram bottle
RELATED: Muffins Possibly Contaminated With Listeria Are Recalled McCormick discovered the potential contamination during routine testing. Affected products were shipped between June 20 and July 21, according to the FDA statement, which details the “best by” dates you would see on the recalled products. For example, the McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning bottles that have been recalled are best used by May 26 and May 27, 2024, as well as June 4 and June 5, 2024. The affected products were shipped to 32 states, plus Bermuda and Canada. McCormick has alerted grocery outlets to remove affected products from store shelves and distribution centers immediately. So what should you do if have some at home? Throw them away, says Candice Christian, MPH, who specializes in consumer and retail food safety at North Carolina State University’s NC Cooperative Extension in Raleigh. It’s a good idea to search the back of your cupboards, because spices have long shelf lives, so consumers sometimes shove them into a cabinet and forget about them. “And don’t forget to toss any food made with them,” Christian adds. The FDA hasn’t received any reports about cases of salmonella poisoning connected to the recall. RELATED: How Safe Is the Food We Eat and Serve Our Families? Salmonella is a common bacterial disease that impacts the intestinal tract. It causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths annually in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. Food is the source for most of these illnesses. In general, the foods most commonly associated with salmonella are “poultry and eggs, fresh produce, and low-water activity foods, such as peanut butter,” Christian says. That includes seasonings: “Salmonella is pretty resilient and persists in dry heat, like how Frank’s RedHot seasoning is processed,” Christian says. Christian says symptoms of salmonella exposure include:
NauseaVomitingDiarrheaCramps, particularly in the stomach, per the CDCA fever that lasts for a few days to a week
RELATED: 11 Fascinating Facts About Body Temperature The CDC notes that symptoms usually appear six hours to six days after you’re exposed to the bacteria, and can linger for four to seven days. Most people recover without antibiotics, though those with severe symptoms may need to be treated or even hospitalized. Salmonella can be fatal in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA, but that’s rare. If you want a refund or replacement for your seasonings or hot sauce, contact McCormick’s Consumer Affairs department at 800-635-2867.
