ConAgra Foods, Campbell Soup hit by recall orders by US food safety body

Two US foods companies - ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC, and Campbell Soup Supply Company, LLC, are recalling their respective brands Marie Callender's brand Cheesy Chicken and Rice frozen meals, and SpaghettiOs with Meatballs, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service says (FSIS).

While Campbell Soup is recalling approximately 15,000,000 pounds of "SpaghettiOs with Meatballs" canned products due to possible under-processing, manufactured between December 2008 and June 2010, ConAgra is recalling all Marie Callender's brand Cheesy Chicken and Rice frozen meals, regardless of production date after the company was informed by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an investigation involving 29 people in 14 states who have been diagnosed with salmonellosis linked to Salmonella serotype Chester.

Eight of the case-patients specifically reported eating this product in April and May 2010, prior to the onset of the illness; with the last illness being reported on 22 May.

FSIS became aware of the problem during the course of an ongoing investigation of a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella serotype Chester illnesses. CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FSIS, and state health and agriculture departments are investigating the possible causes of the disease, though their investigations have have not yet definitively identified the food sources.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.