Everest Brand Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala in the U.S. Due to Possible Health Risk

Company Announcement Date: June 30, 2023
FDA Publish Date: June 30, 2023
Product Type: Food & Beverages; Spices, Flavors & Salts; Foodborne Illness
Reason for Announcement: Potential Foodborne Illness-Salmonella
Company Name: Everest Food Products Private Limited
Brand Name: Everest
Product Description: Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala spices

Everest Food Products Private Limited of Gujarat, India, has been notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that samples of their products, Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala, have tested positive for Salmonella. These products were not distributed by Everest Food Products Private Limited, and they were not intended for distribution or sale in the U.S. market.

Amin Trading Agency LLC, Edison, New Jersey, sourced our products from Indian markets and distributed them in the U.S. market. Amin Trading Agency LLC is recalling these products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which 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.

The recalled products were distributed to retail stores in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. No illnesses have been reported to date. The following products are being recalled:

• EVEREST GARAM MASALA
  Brand: Everest Food Products
  Unit Size: 100gm
  Date of Manufacture: January 2023
  Expiration Date: March 2024
  Batch #: U25D390373
  UPC #: 8 901786 101009
• EVEREST SAMBHAR MASALA
  Brand Name: Everest Food Products
  Unit Size: 100gm
  Date of Manufacture: January 2023
  Expiration Date: March 2024
  Batch #: U04D384296
  UPC #: 8 901786 081004

Consumers should not consume the recalled products and should dispose of the products. Read more about this recall on the FDA website.

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*We believe that none of the product being recalled were processed or offered through the national office
*We strongly encourage you to notify your agencies within one business day from receipt of this notice.
*ALL cased and uncased inventories, both at the member level and agency level, need to be checked. This product may have entered member and agency warehouses through salvage, local donations, TEFAP, local purchases, retail pickups, food drives, or other avenues.
*For additional local details, please contact the Health Department(s) for the area(s) your food bank serves.
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About Feeding America Recall Notices

The Feeding America national office issues notifications of all national Class I and II recalls—those involving a health hazard situation in which there is reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death—and other recalls that may affect the safety of food supplied to network members.

The national office strongly encourages all member product solicitors, operations managers, and others involved in food and grocery distribution to regularly consult resources provided by the U.S. FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, members can often receive information on national, state, and local recalls by contacting their local health departments.

Feeding America National Office
Feeding America
161 N. Clark, Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60601