WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- Officials say the recall of numerous foods possibly contaminated with salmonella bacteria is expanding in both the United States and Canada.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it traced the source of the bacterial strain -- Salmonella Tennessee -- to hydrolyzed vegetable protein manufactured by a Las Vegas company. The FDA said the ingredient is used most frequently as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods, including soups, sauces, chilies, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressings.
Among the latest 150 recalled products in the United States are:
-- Kroger onion soup and dip mix and beefy onion soup and dip mix.
-- Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen crab Creole spread and old fashioned spinach dips sold in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri.
-- Various varieties of taquitos and quesadillas sold under the Jose Ole, El Pasado, Casa Solana and Posada brand names.
-- Herr's cracked pepper and sea salt flavored kettle style potato chips.
-- Quaker Minis savory tomato and basic rice cakes.
-- Quaker Snack Mix baked cheddar flavor with a "sell-by" date of June 15.
-- Publix mushroom gravy mix, meatloaf seasoning, beef-flavored stew mix and au jus gravy mix.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the latest recalls in that nation include:
-- Sabatini's Gourmet spinach and vegetable dips.
-- Mon's Pantry dressed popcorn seasoning.
-- Compliments onion soup mix.
-- Family's Best smoky bacon potato chips.
-- Selection roasted BBQ peanuts.
-- No name (consumers can have their name printed on the package) cream of leek and onion soup mixes.
-- Quaker Minis savory tomato and basic rice cakes.
The FDA says a list of all recalled U.S. HVP products is available at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/HVPCP/HydrolyzedVegetableProteinProductsList2010.pdf.
