These products were distributed throughout the United States by Chitak New York Ltd., which markets them under the Indian food brand "Deep." The products include frozen vegetables, ready-made meals, and fruits.
The recall began on July 16, was expanded by the company on September 9, and was officially classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on December 11 as a Category 1, the highest category, meaning "there is a reasonable possibility that use of or exposure to a contaminated product could result in serious health consequences or death."
The recall comes after investigations into a salmonella outbreak linked to food distributed by the company in 11 states, which sickened 12 people, hospitalizing four, but causing no deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the outbreak to Dip frozen mung bean and green bean products, as well as Dip Premium Frozen Mix, which are no longer available in stores.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain. It often resolves within a few days, but some cases require hospitalization, with a mortality rate of less than one percent. Frozen foods can become contaminated at multiple stages of the production chain, and freezing alone does not kill the bacteria, as they can be transferred from contaminated raw ingredients or from unclean equipment and surfaces in the manufacturing facility.
Salmonella invades intestinal cells, hindering water absorption and leading to stomach cramps and diarrhea. The number of infected individuals may be higher than officially recorded, as many recover without medical care and are not tested.
Treatment for salmonella focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing dehydration, but hospitalization becomes necessary if the infection spreads from the intestines to the bloodstream. In rare cases, the infection can lead to serious complications, including infections of the brain, bones, heart, or urinary tract, especially in children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. These complications require treatment with antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and close medical monitoring.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration urged consumers, restaurants, and retailers to check their freezers for the recalled products, and not to eat, sell, or serve them, but to dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase, stressing that "the recalled product should not be available for sale on the market."
