Residents urged to check freezers after FSIS alert

The Douglas County Health Department shared a public health alert from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service regarding various meat and poultry products containing dairy ingredients that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

FSIS issued the alert April 30, and the notice was updated May 1 to include additional affected products and labels. The agency said more downstream products may be identified as the ingredient recall continues.

According to FSIS, the issue was discovered after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified the agency that multiple FSIS-regulated establishments had received FDA-regulated ingredients made with dry milk powder that had been recalled.

The affected products include select Mama Cozzi’s breakfast pizzas, Pork King Good sour cream and onion pork rinds, Culinary Circle chicken bacon ranch pizza, and Great Value chicken bacon ranch pizzas. Several of the products were distributed nationwide, according to the FSIS product list.

While the alert is national, the Douglas County Health Department’s release serves as a local reminder for residents to check their refrigerators and freezers for any affected products.

FSIS said there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions connected to the products. However, the agency is concerned that some products may still be in consumers’ or retailers’ refrigerators or freezers.

Consumers who purchased the affected products are urged not to eat them. Retailers are urged not to sell or serve them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, usually beginning six hours to six days after eating contaminated food. Illness typically lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. Older adults, infants and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe illness.

Anyone concerned about illness should contact a health care provider.

Consumers with food safety questions may call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline, or 888-674-6854. Questions may also be emailed to [email protected]. Problems with meat, poultry or egg products may be reported online through the USDA Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.