Salmonella Risk Prompts Wider Food Recall

March 10, 2010 -- Nearly 2 million pounds of ready-to-eat beef taquito and chicken quesadilla products that may be contaminated with salmonella have been recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspective Service said Windsor Foods, which operates in Lampasas, Texas, and Oakland, Miss., had recalled the products.

"The packages of beef taquito and chicken quesadilla products contain an ingredient of the specific hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), which was recalled" March 4 by the FDA, the USDA says in a news release.

The FDA said the recall was called due to the finding that the HVP ingredient was added after salmonella prevention steps were applied.

The HVP was made by Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas. It's used in hot dogs, soups, salad dressings, chili, sauces, stews, gravies, chips and dips.

In addition to the beef and chicken products recalled today by Windsor Foods, Proctor & Gamble announced that it's recalling two Pringles products that contain the HVP from Basic Food Flavors. The recalled products are Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger potato crisps and Pringles Family Faves Taco Night potato crisps.

Last week the FDA said 56 products had been recalled, and that the list was expected to grow.

HVP tainted products have been shipped out of Las Vegas since last September, USDA said.

The USDA says each of the beef taquito cartons being recalled bear a label "EST.5590" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The chicken quesadilla boxes subject to recall bear the USDA mark of inspection, with the number "P-34708" located separately on the box.

The products were sent to food service and retail establishments nationwide, USDA said.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says it will post the retail distribution lists as soon as possible on its web site.

So far there have been no reports of illnesses associated with the consumption of any of the products, but the USDA said it advises people who are concerned to contact a physician.

Eating foods contaminated with salmonella can cause a bacterial illness that can be life threatening, especially to people with weak immune systems, infants, the elderly, and people with HIV infections or undergoing chemotherapy.

Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Other symptoms can include chills, nausea and vomiting.