A Virginia company is recalling four months worth of sour cream and chive flavored potato chips because powdered milk used in the seasoning has been recalled because of possible Salmonella contamination.

recalled Route 11 potato chipsRoute 11 Potato Chips of Mount Jackson, VA, posted the recall with the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, but did not indicate how many chips are being recalled or where they were distributed.

“On Dec. 19, Route 11 Potato Chips was advised by its seasoning supplier that an ingredient in its ‘Sour Cream & Chive’ seasoning was subject to a recall. The ingredient, nonfat dry milk powder, was produced in a facility where the FDA identified Salmonella in the environment,” according to the Route 11 recall notice.

“Although no pathogenic material was found in the finished product supplied to Route 11, the kettle chip maker decided out of an abundance of caution, to recall its Sour Cream & Chive Potato Chips, 2-ounce and 6-ounce bags, produced with BEST BY DATES beginning with 2/9/17 and ending with 6/10/17.”

No illnesses had been reported in relation to the Route 11 chips as of Dec. 22, according to the recall notice. The company has never before had to recall product in its 25-year history.

Consumers should check their homes for the recalled chips and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For chips purchased directly from the company, consumers should contact Route 11 for refund information.

Although the Route 11 recall did not name the powdered milk supplier in its recall notice, more than a dozen other companies’ recent recalls have named Valley Milk Products LLC of Strasburg, VA, as the producer of the problematic powdered milk.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections.

Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Related recalls
At the request of the FDA, armed U.S. Marshals raided the Valley Milk plant on Dec. 1 and seized 4 million pounds of powdered milk and powdered buttermilk.

On Dec. 9 Valley Milk Products recalled 3.1 million pounds of powdered milk products produced and sold in the period from Dec. 5, 2015, through July 10, 2016.

While the FDA has access to company records showing who bought the recalled powdered milk, and when, it cannot publish those details because of a federal law protecting “confidential corporate information.”

In a document filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia the FDA reported environmental swabs collected at the production facility returned positive results for Salmonella.

Inspectors also found internal records at Valley Milk that showed the company itself had found Salmonella in the facility and in finished products.

For additional details on other recalls related to the Valley Milk Products problems with Salmonella, please see:

Armed federal agents seize milk products from major cooperative

Publix recalls mixes; cites powdered milk Salmonella problem

Stonewall Kitchen recalls mixes for tainted powdered milk

Great Value, other mac & cheese brands recalled for Salmonella

Monkey bread mix recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk

Chips recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk seasoning

Mac & cheese sold at Aldi, Dollar Tree recalled for Salmonella

New Hope Mills recalls crepe mix because of powdered milk

Frozen desserts recalled for Salmonella risk in powdered milk

Powdered milk Salmonella risk hits Roundy’s, Old Dutch chips

Powdered milk forces Albertsons, HEB, Safeway bakery recalls

Williams-Sonoma recalls mix for problem with powdered milk

Houdini recalls gift baskets from Costco, Sam’s Club, others

Snyder chips recalled for powdered milk Salmonella risk

Dieffenbach’s recalls chips for Salmonella threat in seasoning

Biscuit, cornbread mix recalled; powdered milk pathogen risk

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