If any of you are like me, you may be starting to develop some serious concerns about the safety of our food system. It seems every time you turn around the FDA is announcing yet another food recall.
The latest massive recall involves HVP or hydrolyzed vegetable protein. HVP is used as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods including soups, sauces hot dogs, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressings. According to Jenny Scott, senior adviser to the director at the Office of Food Safety at the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the recalled HPV is “likely to be in thousands of food products”.
The original recall was sparked when investigators for the FDA discovered the presence of Salmonella Tennessee on processing equipment at a company called Basic Food Flavors Inc out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Basic Food Flavors Inc manufactures HVP. Apparently there have not been any reported illnesses, but the FDA is taking precautionary measures to prevent outbreaks like we’ve experienced in the past.
The FDA has said that risk of illness is low because most of the foods containing the HVP would be cooked after the ingredient was added, destroying salmonella. However, we encourage you to follow the updates on this recall and continue using safe food handling practices including proper washing, storage and cooking. Check out FoodSafety.gov or Fightbac.org for more information on safe food handling.
For a complete list of product recalls click here.
Just one more reason to avoid processed, packaged items and to eat whole foods instead!
- Lauren
Labels: Breaking News, Food Recall, Lauren
|
And it never ends! Thank you for the info!