Bits & Pieces : Food Poisening

Veggie Dips Recalled For Possible Contamination

Consumers who purchase veggie dips are urged to look at the labels as some dips may be contaminated with salmonella, according to Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.

The Columbus, Ohio based T. Marzetti Company is recalling certain production codes of T. Marzetti Veggie Dips, Oak Lake Chip Dips and Great Value Chip Dips. The products may contain an ingredient that has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.

The products, distributed throughout the United States, are sold in plastic tubs under the T. Marzetti brand. The dips being recalled are:

• T. Marzetti Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, 15.5- ounce (UPC 70200 52004)

Best By dates: APR2010F, APR2810F, MAY1610F, MAY3110F, JUN0610F, JUN1410F, JUN1910F

• T. Marzetti Fat Free Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, 13- ounce (UPC 70200 52033)

Best By dates: MAY1610F, MAY3010F, JUN0810F, JUN1210F, JUN2510F

• T. Marzetti Spinach Veggie Dip, 15-ounce (UPC 70200 52059)

Best By dates: APR1910F, MAY0910F, JUN0710F

Other products being recalled that were distributed in Laredo, Texas and Canada are:

• T. Marzetti Spinach Veggie Dip, Epinards, Trempette A Legumes, 340 gram (UPC 70200 58843)

Best By dates: 10AL11F, 10AL17F, 10AL24F, 10AL30F, 10MA08F, 10JN12F

• T. Marzetti Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, Ranch style sud-ouest americain Trempette A Legumes, 340 gram (UPC 70200 58844)

Best By dates: 10AL17F, 10AL24F, 10AL30F, 10MA08F, 10JN05F, 10JN14F

Products that are being recalled that were distributed in Ohio under the Oak Lake Farms Brand and are refrigerated include:

• Oak Lake Farms French Onion Chip Dip, 16 ounce (UPC 73534 43480)

Best By dates: APR2310F, JUN1110F, JUN2610F

Products distributed in the U.S. under the Great Value brand and sold under refrigeration include:

• Great Value Ranch Chip Dip, 16 ounce (UPC 78742 43099)

Best By dates: 042810F, 050810F, 052910F, 053010F, 053110F, 060410F, 060510F, 061110F

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Study: Food Poisoning Costs $152B A Year

A new report released by a food safety group estimates food-borne illnesses cost the U.S. $152 billion each year in health care and other losses.

Wednesday's report by the Produce Safety Project, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts, examined government data on all food-borne illnesses with a known cause, such as E. coli and salmonella, as well as illnesses with no known cause.

The study also looked at a broad set of costs that included medical care and quality of life losses, such as pain and suffering and death.

The report comes as the U.S. Senate considers legislation that would require more government inspections of food manufacturers and give the Food and Drug Administration new authority to order recalls, among other things.

The House passed a similar bill last year.

Georgia Dept of Ag; Produce Safety Project; AP; WSB