More companies added products to the growing list of recalled food products containing Salmonella contaminated hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP). HVP is a flavor enhancer used in a wide variety of processed food products, such as soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips, and dressings. The manufacturer of the contaminated HVP is Basic Food Flavors Inc in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The FDA announced yesterday that, during its investigation at the Las Vegas facilities of Basic Food Flavors, it found Salmonella Tenessee (the serotype involved in the recall) in the companies production equipment. “This situation clearly underscores the need for new food safety legislation to equip FDA with the tools we need to prevent contamination," said Dr. Jeff Farrar, associate commissioner for food protection, FDA’s Office of Foods.