Mikesell’s Potato Chip Co. is recalling its 2.25-ounce bags of “Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips” because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella from powdered milk used in the seasoning.

There is concern that the recalled chips are in stores and consumers’ homes because they have sell-by dates well into in February 2017. Mikesell’s distributed the chips in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, according to the recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

recalled Mikesell's tortilla chips Valley MilkThe recalled nacho cheese flavored tortilla chip can be identified by the UPC number 071104005543 on the back of the package and a sell by date of FEB0216 or FEB1617 stamped on the upper right corner.

“Consumers who have purchased 2.25-ounce packages of Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund,” according to Mikesell’s recall notice. “No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

“The potential for contamination was noted after FDA environmental testing was done at Valley Milk Products LLC and the presence of Salmonella was noted on equipment. Valley Milk Products LLC is a secondary supplier to All American Seasoning, the seasoning supplier for our Nacho Cheese seasoning.”

More than a dozen other companies’ have similarly named potentially contaminated powdered milk from Valley Milk Products LLC of Strasburg, VA, as the reason for their recalls of products as varied as pudding mix, potato chips, frozen cream puffs and macaroni and cheese.

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:

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