Imported Indian Spice Blend Recalled for Potential Salmonella Contamination

Everest Food Products Private Limited of Gujarat, India has been notified by FDA that samples of their products, Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala, have tested positive for Salmonella. These products were not distributed by Everest Food Products Private Limited and they were not intended for distribution or sale in the US market. Amin Trading Agency LLC., Edison, NJ. sourced our products from Indian markets and distributed them in the US market. Amin Trading Agency LLC. is conducting a recall of these products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

These are Indian spice blends used for cooking Indian dishes. Sambar is a lentil and vegetable based stew (primarly lentils, tamrid pulp, spices (samabar masala) cooked with vegetables like carrot, potatoes, okra, pumkin, bottle gourd, radish, brinjal and small onions/ shallots) and is extremely popular in the South of India.  Ingredients in this spice blend include Coriander, Chilly, Gram Dhal, Urad Dhal, Fenugreek, Kashmiri Chilly, Salt, Turmeric, Asafoetida, Curry Leaf.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/recall-everest-brand-sambhar-masala-and-garam-masala-us-due-possible-health-risk
Recall of Everest Brand Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala in the U.S. Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 30, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  June 30, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Spices, Flavors & Salts
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness-Salmonella
Company Name:  Everest Food Products Private Limited
Brand Name:  Everest
Product Description:  Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala spices

Company Announcement

Everest Food Products Private Limited of Gujarat, India has been notified by FDA that samples of their products, Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala, have tested positive for Salmonella. These products were not distributed by Everest Food Products Private Limited and they were not intended for distribution or sale in the US market. Amin Trading Agency LLC., Edison, NJ. sourced our products from Indian markets and distributed them in the US market. Amin Trading Agency LLC. is conducting a recall of these products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may 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 (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled products were distributed to retail stores in GA, NC, OH, MD, TN, TX, MS, FL, VA, NJ, and NY.

No illnesses reported till date.

Recalled products are as follows:
EVEREST GARAM MASALA
Brand name: Everest Food Products
Unit size: 100gm
Date of manufacture: January 2023
Expire date: March 2024
Batch#: U25D390373
UPC: 8 901786 101009 EVEREST SAMBHAR MASALA

Brand name: Everest Food Products
Unit size: 100gm
Date of manufacture: January 2023
Expire date: March 2024
Batch#: U04D384296
UPC: 8 901786 081004

Consumers should not consume the recalled products and should dispose of the products.