Karmactive Staff
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on April 11 for soup and bowl products that may contain wood fragments. The contamination comes from cilantro used in these foods.
The affected products were shipped to stores and institutions across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. FSIS officials expect more products may be identified soon, possibly expanding the alert nationwide.
FSIS discovered the problem when a food establishment reported that cilantro, an FDA-regulated ingredient, was recalled due to wood contamination.
Wood fragments in food pose several health risks. Small pieces can cause choking, especially for children and older adults. Sharp splinters might cut the mouth, throat, or digestive tract. Wood can also carry bacteria, potentially causing stomach problems.
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This case shows how complex our food system is. When ingredients move between different regulatory agencies—FDA-regulated cilantro used in FSIS-regulated soups—both agencies must work together to protect consumers.
Food companies use various tools to catch foreign materials, including metal detectors, X-ray machines, sieves, and optical scanners. Yet contamination sometimes still occurs.
FSIS urges consumers to throw away these products or return them to the store. Those with questions can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email [email protected] who find problems with meat, poultry, or egg products can file a report through the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
Frequently Asked Questions
Various soup and bowl products distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio are currently affected. The FSIS has indicated that more products may be identified, potentially expanding the alert nationwide. For the most up-to-date information on specific products, check the FSIS website regularly.
The contaminant is wood fragments, which originated from cilantro used as an ingredient in the affected products. The cilantro is an FDA-regulated ingredient that was used in FSIS-regulated soup and bowl products.
If you have purchased any of the affected products, the FSIS strongly advises not to consume them. You should either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Institutions that might have these products are also advised not to serve them.
Wood fragments in food can pose several health risks. They can be a choking hazard, especially for children and elderly people. Sharp splinters might cause cuts or abrasions in the mouth, throat, or digestive tract. Additionally, wood can harbor bacteria or mold, which may lead to gastrointestinal issues if consumed.
This is currently a public health alert issued by the FSIS, not a formal recall. Public health alerts are issued when FSIS believes there is a health risk associated with a product, but a recall has not yet been initiated. The situation may evolve into a recall as more information becomes available.
For questions about this public health alert, you can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email [email protected]. If you need to report a problem with meat, poultry, or egg products, you can use the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
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