Another company is recalling moringa powder products due to salmonella contamination and a related outbreak.
Brooklyn, New York-based Food To Live is recalling its organic moringa leaf powder (dried moringa oleifera) and organic supergreens powder blend distributed under the Food To Live brand.
The recalled moringa was distributed nationwide and through online sales. The product was also available on third-party e-commerce platforms including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target, Etsy and eBay. In addition, large quantities of the affected shipment were sold to food manufacturers and other businesses through Food To Live's wholesale division.
Consumers can identify the recalled Food to Live Moringa Powder by using the following information:
- Food To Live Brand ORGANIC MORINGA LEAF POWDER in 8 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb, 4 lb, 8 lb, 16 lb and 44 lb bags starting with lot codes “SO-69006” through lot code “SO-72558”.
- Food To Live Brand ORGANIC SUPERGREENS POWDER Blend in 8 oz, 1 lb, 1.5 lb, 3 lb, 6 lb and 12 lb bags starting with lot codes “SO-69006” through lot code “SO-72558”.
Food to Live brand moringa powder was obtained from Vallon Farmdirect PVT LTD of Jodhpur, India. Moringa powder produced by an Indian company was found to be contaminated with salmonella and linked to an outbreak that sickened 13 people in seven states. Three patients required hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A recall is already underway for Member's Mark Super Greens dietary supplements containing moringa powder from a supplier in India. The powder was sold online and in Sam's Club stores nationwide. Sam's Club has stopped distributing and selling the product.
The Food and Drug Administration used tracking records of organic moringa leaf powder collected from the supply chain for all eight points of sale that converged on the direct importer of organic moringa leaf powder sourced from Vallon Farm Direct PVT LTD in India.
As part of the outbreak investigation, the Virginia Department of Health collected an open sample of moringa leaf powder from the home of a sick person. The sample tested positive for salmonella and is consistent with the strain causing illness in this outbreak, according to whole-genome sequencing data, according to the CDC.
After testing samples, Africa Imports, based in South Hackensack, New Jersey, announced a recall of organic moringa leaf powder. The recalled organic moringa leaf powder was sold nationwide through the company's website, africaimports.com. The affected product is packaged in 1 kilogram boxes labeled “Organic Moringa Leaf Powder.” All organic moringa leaf powder purchased after June 5th are subject to recall.
In addition, an unopened sample of Member's Mark Super Greens dietary supplement powder was collected from the home of an ill individual by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and analyzed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This sample tested positive for Salmonella and is consistent with the strain causing illness in this outbreak based on whole genome sequencing data.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of patients in the outbreak is likely much higher than has been identified because some people do not seek medical attention and others do not undergo specific testing for salmonella infection. The agency estimates that for every confirmed patient in a salmonella outbreak, 29 more people go undetected.
About salmonella infection
Food contaminated with salmonella bacteria usually does not look spoiled, does not smell or taste. Anyone can get salmonellosis. According to the CDC, infants, children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and experiences symptoms of salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about possible exposure to salmonella bacteria because special tests are needed to diagnose salmonellosis. Symptoms of Salmonella infection can mimic other diseases, often leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of a salmonella infection may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever for 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise healthy adults usually get sick for four to seven days. However, in some cases, diarrhea can be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people become infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they can still transmit the infection to other people.
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