Food Recalls in US May Increase to 10,000 Products

Product recalls resulting from salmonella contamination at a Nevada food processing plant in the US may increase to 10,000, according to a Consumers Union scientist.

Food giants PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Nestle and McCormick have all recalled products containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

The source of the contamination, at Las Vegas-based Basic Food Flavors, was announced on 4 March.

The food recall could end up being the largest to date, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

So far, no illness has been reported which is being attributed to the need to cook most of the products that have been affected.

Included in the products recalled so far are PepsiCo’s Quaker Baked Cheddar Snack Mix, two flavours of P&G Pringles crisps and Wal-Mart’s own-brand Ranch Chip Dip.

The costs associated with tainted products for food companies worldwide will rise to $15bn annually in the coming years, up from about $400m in 2004.