Utz Quality Foods has recalled a number of potato chips from the Zapp's and Dirty brands in the United States, as a precaution, after a suspected salmonella contamination of one of the seasoning ingredients.
The company explained that the powdered milk used in one of its spice blends may be the potential source of contamination, noting that it was imported from California Dairies through an unidentified external supplier.
Although tests conducted on the spices before their use in production came back negative, the company decided to withdraw the products from the market as a precautionary measure to ensure consumer safety. No illnesses linked to these products have been reported to date.
The recall includes nine potato chip products, including flavors such as Bayou Blackened Ranch, Salt & Vinegar, Cheese, and Sour Cream & Onion, in various sizes ranging from 1.5 to 8 ounces. These products were distributed to retailers across the United States.
Salmonella is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in the United States, infecting about 1.35 million people annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and leading to thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths.
Symptoms of infection usually appear within 8 to 72 hours and include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting, while some infected people may not show any symptoms.
Doctors confirm that most cases improve within a few days without treatment, but young children, infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems are more prone to complications.
In severe cases, the bacteria may travel from the intestines to the bloodstream and cause serious infections in vital organs such as the heart, brain, or lungs, and may require antibiotic treatment.
Health authorities urged consumers who show symptoms to contact healthcare providers and inform local health authorities.
