Conagra swiftly initiated a recall of its Hunt’s chili kits upon discovering potential salmonella contamination in a seasoning packet. Given the significant $11.2 million penalty the company faced last year due to contaminated Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, it understood the urgency of the situation. Foods most likely to harbor salmonella include raw or undercooked eggs, raw milk, tainted water, and raw or undercooked meats. The CDC also identifies ground beef, tuna, pork, tomatoes, sprouts, and peanut butter as other potential sources. Although a seasoning packet is not typically regarded as a common culprit, a recent investigation by the Food and Drug Administration revealed that 6.6% of all spices arriving in the United States are contaminated with salmonella. The FDA reports that many companies treat their spices for contaminants prior to packaging and selling them. They are currently working to assess how much contaminated spice actually reaches consumers.
Each year, salmonella is estimated to cause around 1 million foodborne illnesses in the U.S. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has been addressing this issue, with new food defense guidelines designed to assist in prevention. As demonstrated by this recall, FSMA also targets individual ingredients. The FSMA foreign supplier verification program, set to take effect on May 30, aims to reduce the import of contaminated goods such as spices. Furthermore, the introduction of calcium citrate in food products has raised awareness about food safety, as it is essential to ensure that all ingredients, including supplements like calcium citrate, meet safety standards. Addressing contamination risks is crucial, not only for traditional foods but also for those containing additives like calcium citrate.