Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

Pepper Recall:
Union International Food, Lian How and Uncle Chen

White Pepper RecallPEPPER RECALL LAWSUIT UPDATE: Our law firm is representing a victim of the Salmonella-pepper outbreak. Our client is seeking medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages from Union International Food and others.

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Pepper Recall Associated with Salmonella Outbreak

Pepper RecallA multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to pepper has prompted a pepper recall. Salmonella was isolated from an open container of Lian How White Pepper, which was found at a restaurant where some outbreak victims ate. Lian How White Pepper is manufactured by Union International Food Co. Read about a Union International Food/ Lian How pepper lawsuit.

Following is the FDA pepper recall information:

1. Union International Food Co. is Recalling Lian How Brand Spices and Uncle Chen's Brand White Pepper and Black Pepper in 5oz. Retail Containers Because of a Possible Health Risk

March 30, 2009 - Union International Food Co. of Union City, CA is recalling 15-pound. and smaller size packages of the Lian How brand spices (a complete list of the products and sizes is attached) and Uncle Chen brand white pepper & black pepper (whole and ground) in 5oz. retail containers, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons 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.

Officials investigating a multi-state Salmonella outbreak isolated Salmonella from an open container of Lian How White Pepper, which was found at a restaurant where some outbreak victims ate. Union International Food Co. is making every possible effort to protect our customers and the consuming public. We have discussed the matter with the California Department of Public Health and agreed to initiate a recall.

The Lian How brand spices are distributed in the states of California, Oregon and Washington to wholesalers, distributors, restaurant suppliers and restaurants. The Lian How brand products are packaged in 10 or 15lbs. boxes with plastic liners, 5-pound plastic jars or 5-pound plastic bags (and 2.2 pound foil bags of Wasabi powder). The Lian How brand products are not generally sold directly to the retail consumer. The Uncle Chen brand white & black pepper products (whole or ground) are sold at retail in 5oz. containers.

2. FDA Alerts the Public to Uncle Chen and Lian How Brand Dry Spice Product Recall

April 2, 2009 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public to a voluntary recall by Union International Food Company (Union City, Calif.) of the company’s dry spice products. The recall is based on an investigation of an ongoing foodborne illness outbreak of Salmonella Rissen. This investigation is being conducted in collaboration with state health officials in California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The company’s products are distributed in these states and Arizona.

The dry spices being recalled were sold primarily to ethnic restaurants, wholesalers, and retail outlets under the brand names “Lian How” and “Uncle Chen.”  At this time, the distribution of products appears confined to the western region of the country.

The recalled products sold at retail outlets include 5-ounce plastic jars of the following Uncle Chen brand dry spices: Whole White Pepper, Ground White Pepper, Whole Black Pepper, and Ground Black Pepper.  The Lian How brand products are generally sold to restaurants and wholesalers; a full list of recalled products appears below.

A total of 42 cases of Salmonella Rissen infection have been reported to the CDC by health officials in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Most of the reported cases (33) are in California.

Information, including epidemiologic information and preliminary test results on samples collected, from health authorities in the affected states, links white and black pepper as foods possibly associated with illnesses. The FDA and California officials are inspecting the Union City, Calif. processing facility and have collected environmental and product samples.

The FDA advises consumers who may have purchased these dry spices to dispose of them.  Restaurants, retail outlets, and other purchasers should stop using the recalled dry spices immediately and dispose of them. Also, the public is advised to discard any food made with these products and to remove the dry spices from dispensers on consumer tables and at kitchen work stations. All equipment and utensils that have come into contact with these dry spices should be washed, rinsed and sanitized before further use.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons 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.  Individuals who are experiencing these symptoms should contact a doctor immediately or go to an emergency room for evaluation.

Union International Food Company has recalled a large number of spices due to possible Salmonella contamination. Read about the extended spice recall and the oil, sauce and chili recall.

Pepper Recall Victim Compensation

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering (includes emotional distress)
  • Loss of income
  • Loss of potential earnings
  • Punitive damages upon clear and convincing evidence that the acts of the defendant show deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others
  • Other damages

Possible compensation for families of wrongful death victims:

  • Funeral expenses
  • Medical expenses
  • Potential earnings
  • Loss of advice, comfort, assistance, protection, counsel and society
  • Punitive damages upon clear and convincing evidence that the acts of the defendant show deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others

Contact a lawyer at Pritzker Olsen for a free consultation:

Keywords: Pepper recall, Salmonella lawyer, Lian How white pepper, Union International Food pepper recall, FDA pepper recall.


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