Mojito Sauce recalled over salmonella concerns

From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- August 30, 2007 -- Stirrings LLC, of Fall River, Massachusetts is recalling its 3.5 oz packages of Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish (UPC# 80999 00046) with the best by codes 10/27/08, 10/30/08, 11/23/08, 12/01/08, 12/04/08 and 01/03/09 printed on the side of the tin. The recall may involve approximately 5,000 cases of its Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish supplied by Van de Vries Spice Corporation (formerly Atlantic Quality Spice) of Edison, NJ because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Although Stirrings LLC's tests of finished product samples were negative for the presence of Salmonella, parsley powder, one of several ingredients supplied by Van de Vries Spice, tested positive for Salmonella.

The presence of 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, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more serious illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish was distributed nationwide through distributors, retail stores, internet sales and cocktail establishments.

Immediately after Van de Vries brought to Stirrings attention that a parsley powder used in a single lot of Mojito Rimmer product potentially could contain Salmonella based on FDA testing, Stirrings retained expert laboratories, primarily Shuster Laboratories of Canton, Massachusetts to test samples of its Mojito Rimmer product for Salmonella. Testing of 24 samples drawn from the Van de Vries lot of Mojito Rimmer failed to reveal the presence of Salmonella in the Mojito Rimmer product.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Stirrings CEO Paul Nardone explained, "We have removed parsley powder from our Rimmer Cocktail Garnish formula. This ingredient represents less than one half of one percent of the blend and was used primarily as a natural colorant." Nardone further stated, "We have initiated a recall as a precaution and assurance to our customers that we stand behind our product quality 100%."

Consumers who have purchased Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish with the best by codes noted above are asked to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the Company toll-free at 866-648-8239.