DEARBORN (WWJ) — A Metro Detroit food distributor is recalling a brand of ground pepper because it may be contaminated with salmonella.
UBC Food Distributors of Dearborn on Monday issued a recall for ground black pepper under the Baraka brand name in 7-oz. Plastic containers with UPC code 8 22514 26626 6.
The recalled black pepper products were distributed to retail stores nationwide.
The product comes in a 7 ounce, clear plastic package marked with expiration date of January 2026 on the back of the label.
While no illnesses have been reported, officials said in the recall notice "the potential for contamination was noted after the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) notified us of the contamination based on a routine state surveillance sample collected by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets that tested positive for Salmonella the presence of Salmonella in some 7 ounce packages of Ground Black Pepper."
Production of the ground pepper has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue their investigation into the source of the problem.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Anyone who bought the Baraka pepper should not use it and is urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, UBC officials said.
More on today's top stories:
