Secaucus, New Jersey-based Goya Foods Inc., the dominant Latin American foods company, has recalled all its 14-ounce packages of frozen mamey pulp. The product is used to make milkshakes and smoothies. The packages were distributed in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Texas. Curiously, that information isn't available on the company's website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration announced the recall.
The CDC has tied the tropical fruit product to at least five cases of Salmonella typhi, the bacterium that causes typhoid fever. No cases have been confirmed in Texas. However, the mamey pulp was distributed in Texas. In the Dallas area alone, there is a Latino population of 1,188,580, according to the 2000 U.S. census.
The plastic package of mamey lacks a lot number or expiration date, but the UPC code is 041331090803.
Individuals who have bought Goya mamey pulp from retail outlets should throw away the packages and contact the company's consumer affairs department for a full refund by phone (1-800-275-4692) Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, noted an FDA press release. Consumer affairs can also be contacted via email ([email protected]).
The majority of individuals infected with Salmonella typhi develop high fever as well as headache, constipation, malaise, chills and myalgia between two and five weeks after infection. Those exhibiting symptoms should seek the advice of a physician. The illness can last from three to four weeks and can be fatal if untreated.
A call to Goya's quality control office was not returned.
