Williams-Sonoma of San Francisco, CA is voluntarily recalling limited quantities of its Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Quick Bread mix because it was made with powdered milk that could be contaminated with Salmonella.

recalled Williams-Sonoma lemon poppy seed bread“The ingredient supplier has issued a recall of the bulk milk powder. Although no pathogenic bacteria have been found in the powdered milk product supplied in Williams-Sonoma’s product, we have decided out of an abundance of caution to recall the product produced from the specific lot received from our ingredient supplier,” according to the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

“Consumers who have purchased Williams-Sonoma Meyer Lemon Poppy Quick Bread are urged to discontinue use and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company by email at customerservice@williams-sonoma.com or phone at 844-526-4666.”

Retailers nationwide received the recalled lemon poppy seed bread mix from Williams-Sonoma from August 2016-present. Consumers can identify the recalled bread mix by looking for the following label information:

  • Williams-Sonoma Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Quick Bread;
  • NET WT. 1 LB. 2 OZ;
  • Packaged in a yellow paper bag;
  • SKU 7839186 located on price sticker; and
  • BEST BY: JAN2018 02118:A1 or JAN2018 02018:A1 located on the back flap.

Although Williams-Sonoma did not name the powdered milk supplier in its recall notice, in recent days a number of other companies have recalled a wide variety of food products from macaroni and cheese to frozen cream puffs because of potentially contaminated powdered milk ingredients names Valley Milk Products LLC.

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
The companies that named the powdered milk supplier said the potentially contaminated ingredients came from the Valley Milk Products production plant in Strasburg, VA. At the request of the FDA, armed U.S. Marshals raided the 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:

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