Spices Sold In Maryland Recalled For Salmonella Risk

MARYLAND — McCormick & Co. this week issued a voluntary recall of three spice products sold at Kroger, Target and Walmart stores, citing possible salmonella contamination.

The spices included in the recall are McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, McCormick Culinary Italian Seasoning and Frank's RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Salmonella is bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older people and others with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.

The affected products were shipped to 32 different states, including Maryland, and sold in Walmart, Target and Kroger stores, USA Today reported.

The recall includes the following products:

McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, 1.31 oz. bottle

• UPC Number: 052100049731
• McCormick Item Number: 901582629
• Affected Date Codes: BEST BY MAY 26 24 K, BEST BY MAY 27 24 K, BEST BY JUN 04 24 K, BEST BY JUN 05 24 K

McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, 2.25 oz. bottle

• UPC Number: 052100038254
• McCormick Item Number: 901455463
• Affected Date Codes: BEST BY JUN 30 24 H, BEST BY JUL 01 24 H

McCormick Culinary Italian Seasoning, 1.75 lbs. bottle

• UPC Number: 52100325743
• McCormick Item Number: 932574
• Affected Date Codes: BEST BY Jun 12 24 H

Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning, 153-gram bottle

• UPC Number: 066200021047
• McCormick Item Number: 901543520
• Affected Date Codes: BB / MA 2022 SEP 06

No illnesses have been reported to date, the company said.

Stores that sold the products have been alerted, according to the notice, and were instructed to remove the products from shelves. Kroger, which is reportedly one of the companies recalling the spices, owns grocer Harris Teeter.

If you have one of these spices in your kitchen cupboards, you do not need to return it to the store where you purchased it. Instead, consumers are urged to dispose of the product and its container. To request a replacement or full refund, call McCormick Consumer Affairs at 800-635-2867.

According to the FDA, the spices were shipped from June 20 to July 21 to stores in these states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Food is the source of most of these illnesses.

Most people who get ill from salmonella have diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days.

— By Megan VerHelst and Elizabeth Janney