Pork Rinds & Snacks LLC is recalling more than three tons of pork skin snacks that may be contaminated with Salmonella because the seasoning contains powdered milk from Valley Milk Products LLC that has been recalled.

The recall by the Spartanburg, SC, snack company was one of four posted Thursday on FDA and USDA websites by food companies that named powdered milk from Valley Milk Products of Strasburg, VA.

recalled Wallace's pork rinds Valley MilkSince Dec. 7 at least 17 companies have recalled products packaged under even more brandnames because of the potential Salmonella contamination. Valley Milk has recalled about 3 million pounds of powdered milk and powdered buttermilk — after the federal government seized 4 million pounds of the same products from the cooperative’s production plant in Strasburg.

The recalled pork rind snacks are ready-to-eat and were produced between Sept. 27 and Dec. 13, according to the recall notice posted on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website. Pork Rinds & Snacks distributed the recalled products to retailers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 4,022 pounds of 9/16-ounce plastic packages containing “WALLACE’S OLD FASHIONED FRIED PORK SKINS FLAVORED WITH Salsa & Sour Cream SEASONING CHICHARRONES” with Best By dates ranging from “JAN 05 17” to “MAR 23 17”
  • 3,208 pounds of 1.5-ounce plastic packages containing “WALLACE’S OLD FASHIONED FRIED PORK SKINS FLAVORED WITH SALSA & SOUR CREAM SEASONING CHICHARRONES” with Best By dates ranging from “JAN 05 17” to “MAR 23 17”
  • 399 pounds of 9/16-ounce plastic packages containing “COUNTRY TIME Old Fashioned Fried PORK SKINS CHICHARRONES SALSA & SOUR CREAM FLAVOR” with Best By dates ranging from “JAN 05 17”to “MAR 23 17”

All of the pork rind products included in this recall have the establishment number “EST. M00888” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the packages.

“There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products,” according to the recall notice.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. … consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Terri Morey, plant manager, at 864-573-5678.”

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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