Christmas Recall: Item in Costco, Sam's Club Gift Baskets Recalled Over Salmonella Concerns

More than 30 gift baskets and gift snack assortments sold nationwide by Costco, Sam's Club and via the Internet have been recalled because they contain powdered-milk-infused items that could be contaminated with salmonella.

In the gift basket recall: varieties of Blue Cheese Savory Twists. These products could be contaminated with the pathogen as they include an ingredient made with the powdered milk that has been at the root of various recent food recalls.

The recall was posted with the Food and Drug Administration by Houdini Inc. of Fullerton, Calif.

“Although no pathogenic bacteria have been found in the powdered products supplied to our Savory Twist supplier by the ingredient manufacturer, nor in any of the Blue Cheese Savory Twists themselves, we have decided out of an abundance of caution to recall products produced from the specific lots purchased from this ingredient supplier,” reads the recall notice.

Affected blue cheese snacks are packaged in 7-ounce boxes in three colors: red, green and copper. Some recalled gift baskets were sold by Houdini Inc. directly to customers via the firm's Wine Country Gift Baskets catalog and website as well as through its wholesale division.

It was only the 7-ounce blue cheese twist boxes in gift baskets that were shipped or sold in stores from Sept. 1 through Dec. 12 that are included in the recall. None of the other items in the affected gift baskets have been recalled.

Salmonella is 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.

Officials are urging people who have the 7-ounce Blue Cheese Savor Twists not to consume them and discard the items. Consumers with questions can call the Houdini Customer Care at 866-712-5910.

Consumers should check the foil pouches in the blue cheese twists boxes for the following codes. Only products bearing these two codes are subject to the recall:

• 1831602 XX with XX=last 2 digits refer to specific packaging machine; or
• 2431602 XX with XX=last 2 digits refer to specific packaging machine.

Specific gift baskets and snack collections subject to the Houdini inc. recall are:
Gift Basket Name:Lot code number:Wine Country Gift Baskets:

Wine Trio
LC448865
Napa & Sonoma Valley Exclusive
LC449695
Bodega de San Antonio Sangria Tradicional
LC446420
California Cabernet and Chardonnay Gift
LC451463
Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Duet
LC450020
Placeholder Six Bottle WOM Wines Collection
LC448789
The Ultimate Wine and Champagne Collection
LC448866
Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Collection
LC449703
The Classic
LC444761, LC446625, LC446626, LC451389
Lasting Impression
LC447394, LC452566
Wine Country Extravaganza
LC445632
Grgich Hills Napa Valley Selection
LC444483

Gift Basket Name:Lot code number:

Vintners Path Merlot Season’s Greetings
LC444763
Stag’s Leap Winery Collection
LC449624
Vintners Path Cabernet Season’s Greetings
LC445181
Houdini Napa Valley Collection
LC445631
Vintners Path Chardonnay Season’s Greetings
LC444766
Alfasi Cabernet Kosher Selection
LC444152
Alfasi Kosher Trio
LC446250
Alfasi Chardonnay Kosher Selection
LC444153
Napa and Sonoma Duet
LC448370
California Wine Crate
LC450022
The Classic
LC451792, LC454676

TJX Companies:

Metal Basket with Handles
LC449614
Metal Basket with Leather Handles
LC446548, LC446549, LC446550

Sam’s Club:

The Executive
LC442525, LC442751, LC443675

Costco Southeast Region:

Burgundy and Bronze Metal Basket
LC448217, LC448218, LC448219, LC50256, LC52057, LC50258

Costco Northeast Region:Houdini Fabric basket
LC448981

Costco Midwest Region:Wooden Centerpiece
LC448210

Costco.com:Tis The Season
LC445630
Sweets For The Season
LC446542

Houdini Inc. officials didn't disclose the powdered milk supplier in its recall notice, but in recent days several companies have been forced to recall a wide variety of food products from macaroni and cheese to bakery products due to potential contamination of powdered milk ingredients originating from Valley Milk Products LLC.

Reporting by Tony Cantu | Image via Food and Drug Administration