TRS recalls Desi Spices for containing Salmonella

TRS Wholesale Company Ltd is recalling cumin, chilli and coriander powders manufactured by them, due to presence of salmonella.

The official notice of the Foods Standards agency stipulates that point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all stores selling the products, informing consumers why the products are being recalled and what action to take if they have bought the products.

Salmonella is a bacterium that can result in food poisoning.

Salmonella symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and can trigger a fever. It can take about 12 to 72 hours for the symptoms to show, after consuming salmonella. Symptoms last about four to seven days and recovery usually takes place without any medical treatment. But it can cause serious life-threatening dehydration which needs hospital care.

Any one contracting a Salmonella infection can also spread it from person to person due to “poor hygiene, by failing to wash your hands properly after going to the toilet, or after handling contaminated food”.

Originally, TR recalled its cumin (jeera) and dhania (coriander) powders on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, however, on Friday, April 1, 2016, it also recalled its cumin and chilli powders.

The products affected are:

• TRS Jeera Powder – Pack size: 100g. Batch no: P353340. ‘Best before’ date: 31 December 2017.
• TRS Dhania Powder – Pack size: 100g. Batch no: A481514. ‘Best before’ end: End December 2017.
• TRS Ground Cumin (Jeera) Powder – Pack size: 100g. Batch no: P200116. ‘Best before’ date: 30 June 2017.
• TRS Chilli Powder (Extra Hot) – Pack size: 400g. Batch no: P160303.‘Best before’ date: 31 March 2018.

No other TRS Wholesale Company Ltd products are known to be affected.

Any customers who have purchased the affected spices must not eat them. They must return them to the store where they purchased them from and will be entitled to receive a full refund.

Desi spices in powder form are very popular for cooking South Asian dishes. Cumin, dhania and chilli powder are active ingredients in many popular desi dishes including meat curries and vegetarian daals and sabzis. They are available in most Asian stores and supermarkets widely.

The FSA says that if there is a problem with a food product, it means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product). Product Recall Information notices are issued and should not be ignored.

So, if you have bought any of the the mentioned TRS spice products, it is important you return them to the store you bought them as soon as possible or throw them away and keep safe from any potential food poisoning from the Salmonella contamination detected.