On October 10, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration announced that Nina International was issuing a voluntary recall for its brand of Ground Hot Pepper because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.  Nina International is located in Hyattsville, Maryland.  

 

The Ground Hot Pepper comes in a 5oz, clear plastic container.  The container includes the words “Nina International, The Best Brand” as well as “Ground Hot Pepper, Chillies, All Natural.”  The container has a yellow seal that has a red inscription with the word “Nina.”  The following barcode is located on the product: 745851004004. 

 

The Ground Hot Pepper is sold to customers in African and other ethnic retail food store through Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia.  If you bought the product and consumed the contents, do not continue to use the product.  

 

Salmonella can affect people differently.  The organism poses the most danger to young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.  Healthy adults who contract Salmonella will often experience a fever, diarrhea which is sometimes bloody, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.  The symptoms will usually clear up on their own in 4 to 7 days.  

 

However, if you believe you’ve contracted Salmonella, you need to contact your health care provider right away.  In rare cases, Salmonella can lead to infections in the bloodstream and cause arterial infections like infected aneurysms.  It can also cause endocarditis and arthritis in some cases.  

 

Even though no illnesses have been reported so far, Nina International is still issuing the voluntary recall for safety.  Some products were found to be contaminated during a routine testing program. 

 

If you purchased the recalled product, you should not throw it away.  Nina International is encouraging consumers to return the product to the place of purchase in order to receive a full refund.  

 

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration