Another company is recalling moringa powder products because of Salmonella contamination and a related outbreak.
Food To Live, of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling its Organic Moringa Leaf Powder (dried Moringa oleifera) and its Organic Supergreens Powder Mix distributed under the Food To Live brand.
The recalled moringa was distributed nationwide and through online sales. The product was also available on third-party e-commerce platforms, including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target, Etsy and eBay. In addition, bulk quantities from the affected lot were sold to food manufacturers and other businesses through Food To Live’s wholesale division.
Consumers can identify the recalled Food to Live moringa powder by looking for the following information:
- Food To Live brand ORGANIC MORINGA LEAF POWDER, in 8-ounce, 1-pound, 2-pound, 4-pound, 8-pound, 16-pound, and 44-pound bags starting with lot codes of “SO-69006” through lot code “SO-72558.”
- Food To Live brand ORGANIC SUPERGREENS POWDER MIX in 8-ounce, 1-pound, 1.5-pound, 3-pound, 6-pound, and 12-pound bags starting with lot codes of “SO-69006” through lot code “SO-72558.”
The Food to Live brand moringa powder was sourced from Vallon Farmdirect PVT LTD of Johdpur, India. The Indian company’s moringa powder has been found to be contaminated with Salmonella and has been linked to an outbreak that has sickened 13 people across seven states. Three of the patients have required hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is already a recall underway for Member’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplements containing moringa powder from the supplier in India. The powder was sold online and at Sam’s Club stores nationwide. Sam’s Club has ceased distribution and sales of the product.
The Food and Drug Administration used traceback records for organic moringa leaf powder collected from the supply chain for all eight points of sale, which converged at a direct importer of organic moringa leaf powder sourced from Vallon Farm Direct PVT LTD in India.
As part of the outbreak investigation, the Virginia Department of Health collected an open sample of moringa leaf powder from an ill person’s home. This sample tested positive for Salmonella and based on whole-genome sequencing matches the strain causing illnesses in this outbreak, according to the CDC.
Following the sample testing, Africa Imports, located in South Hackensack, NJ, issued a recall of Organic Moringa Leaf Powder. The recalled Organic Moringa Leaf Powder was sold nationwide through the company’s website, africaimports.com. The affected product is packaged in 1-kilogram boxes labeled “Organic Moringa Leaf Powder.” All Organic Moringa Leaf Powder purchased after June 5 is included in this recall.
Also, an open sample of Member’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplement powder was collected from an ill person’s home by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and analyzed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This sample tested positive for Salmonella and based on whole-genome sequencing matches the strain causing illnesses in this outbreak.
According to the CDC there are likely many more outbreak patients than have been identified because some people don’t seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for Salmonella infection. The agency estimates that for every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak there are 29 more who go undetected.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled product and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
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