FDA issues urgent food recall on frozen mamey pulp fruit due to risk of typhoid fever

August 21st, 2010 - 3:07 am ICT by BNO News  

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND (BNO NEWS) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday warned consumers that La Nuestra and Goya brand pulp may put consumers at risk for typhoid fever illnesses.

The FDA is warning consumers not to eat frozen mamey fruit pulp sold under the La Nuestra brand by Montalvan Sales Inc. Ontario, California, or the Goya brand by Goya Foods Inc. Secaucus, New Jersey following an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state partners, which showed an epidemiologic link between an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella Typhi infections and the products.

The CDC reports that at least nine people in California and Nevada are ill with typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi. Ill individuals have reported consuming mamey fruit pulp, including mamey fruit smoothies at juice stands. The two companies get their mamey fruit from a common supplier in Guatemala.

Goya Foods Inc. and La Nuestra have voluntarily recalled the product, and consumers who have the recalled brand frozen mamey pulp in their homes are urged to discard it immediately.

Likewise, consumers are also urged to find out what brand of mamey pulp is being used in drinks prepared at juice stands and stores.

Typhoid fever is a serious illness that can result in death. People with typhoid fever usually have a sustained fever as high as 103 degrees to 104 degrees F (39 degrees to 40 degrees C). They may also feel weak, or have stomach pains, headache, or loss of appetite.

The only way to know for sure if an illness is typhoid fever is to have samples of stool or blood tested for the presence of Salmonella Typhi. Consumers who suspect that they have typhoid fever should see their health care professionals immediately.

Mamey fruit (sometime referred to as “zapote”) is large and round, has brown skin and a fleshy orange pulp. It is grown mainly in the tropical lowlands of Central America and is very popular among the Hispanic community, especially in juices and fruit shakes (called “batidos”).

The FDA noted that this outbreak of Salmonella Typhi is not related to the current outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to eggs in their shells.

Related Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in Health |

Subscribe