September 15, 2014 - Gel Spice Company, Inc., of Bayonne, NJ, is issuing a voluntary recall notice for 16,443 cases of Fresh Finds-Ground Black Pepper, 3.53 oz, plastic jars, because it has the possibility to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Product was distributed via Big Lots Stores, Inc. nationwide, with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii.
There are 16,443 cases of the recalled product sold in 3.53 oz.(100 g) plastic jars with Best By Dates of 6/30/17, 7/01/17, 7/02/17, 7/22/17, and 7/23/17 with the Fresh Finds brand label with UPC Code 4 11010 98290 1 is sold exclusively at Big Lots Retail Stores, Inc. The Best By dates are printed on the neck of the bottle above the label.
There have been no reported illnesses related to this product to date.
The recall was issued as the result of sampling by the FDA which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria.
If you have the recalled product, please dispose of the product. No other size container or best by dates of Fresh Finds Ground Black Pepper are affected by this recall.
