WASHINGTON, July 18,
2000--Fil-Am Specialty Foods, a Los Angeles, Calif., firm, is voluntarily
recalling approximately 2,320 pounds of pork rinds because they contain
monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is undeclared on the label, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced
today.
MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in a
variety of foods prepared at home, in restaurants, and by food processors.
Some persons who have eaten foods containing MSG have reported adverse
reactions.
The pork rind products being
recalled are 4 oz. packages of: Tropics brand " ‘PHILIPPINE STYLE’
CHICHARON (KAWALI)," "GROUND CHICHARON," and " ‘PHILIPPINE
STYLE’ CHICHARON;" Gold Medal brand "GROUND CHICHARON,"
and " ‘PHILIPPINE STYLE’ CHICHARON;" and Amor Nino Foods
Inc. brand " ‘PHILIPPINE STYLE’ CHICHARON KAWALI," regular
and vinegar flavors.
Each package bears a six digit code
representing the date produced. Codes from "050100" through
"063000" representing production dates from May 1 to June 30 and
codes from "000701" through "000717" representing
production dates from July 1 to July 17 are being recalled. In addition,
"EST. 4828" appears in the USDA seal of inspection on each
label. The products were distributed for retail sale in California and
Hawaii.
"FSIS ensures that meat and poultry
products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled," said Thomas J.
Billy, FSIS administrator. "Consumers who have concerns about MSG
should return the product to the point of purchase."
The problem was discovered by an FSIS
inspector at the establishment.
Consumers and media with questions about
the recall may contact Demetrio Manibog, Fil-Am Foods, at (323) 225-6130.
Consumers with food safety questions can
phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at l-800-535-4555. The
hotline can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday
through Friday, and recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a
day.
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FSIS requires that labels
must be informative, truthful, and accurate.
FSIS is responsible for
verifying that labels bear mandatory features and other required
information in a conspicuous and legible manner.
FSIS wants to ensure that
incorrectly labeled products are kept out of consumers’ hands by
identifying and removing them from the marketplace as quickly and
efficiently as possible.
FSIS wants consumers to be
aware of the possibility of economic adulteration and have sufficient
information to identify such mislabeled products and take action. |