Frontier Co-op of Norway, IA, is voluntarily recalling its Organic Hojicha Tea because of potential contamination with Salmonella bacteria.
The recalled tea was sold nationwide from Dec. 13, 2014, through April 21 this year, according to the recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. No illnesses had been confirmed in connection with the recalled tea as of the May 10 posting of the recall. “The raw material received by Frontier Co-op, which tested positive for Salmonella is being recalled by our supplier,” according to the recall notice. “Consumers should not consume these products and should either throw away any remaining products or return to the point of purchase for a refund.” The recalled tea was sold in 1-pound, bulk foil packages with the item number 2920 and a UPC number of 0-89836-02920-1 on the front label. Five different lots of tea are included in the recall. The lot numbers, displayed on the labels next to the 2920 item number are:
- 4338
- 5096
- 5191
- 5289
- 6042
Frontier Co-op sells “natural and organic products” under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia brands, according to the recall notice. Anyone who has become sick with Salmonella infection symptoms after drinking the recall tea should contact their doctor. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea that can be bloody, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
