Recall: 12-ounce Packages of Smiling Hara Unpasteurized Soybean Tempeh - Salmonella

[Missouriwatcher]

April 30, 2012 - RALEIGH ? Smiling Hara of Asheville is voluntarily recalling 12-ounce packages of unpasteurized soybean tempeh because of possible contamination with salmonella.

The company is recalling tempeh manufactured this year between Jan. 11 and April 11. The containers are marked with a best-by date of 7/11/12 through 10/25/12. Tempeh is used as a meat substitute in vegetarian cuisine.

The company is directing consumers to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers wanting more information can contact Smiling Hara at 828-242-1300.

?Anyone with this product in their possession should not eat it,? said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. ?Smiling Hara launched the recall after samples collected by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services during a routine inspection tested positive for salmonella.?

Additional tests will be conducted by the N.C. Division of Public Health to determine whether the salmonella detected in the tempeh matches the strain found in an outbreak that has sickened 37 people. Cases appear to have been associated with residence or travel to Buncombe County since Feb. 28...

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm302591.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: Recall: 12-ounce Packages of Smiling Hara Unpasteurized Soybean Tempeh - Salmonella

The test results today help us confirm that the tempeh is associated with this outbreak, however cases are continuing to be reported. As of May 3, Buncombe County Environmental Health Specialists have contacted all
food establishments under the jurisdiction of the Buncombe County Department of Health to verify that the recalled tempeh has been removed. Although a food source has been linked with the outbreak, the outbreak
continues because infection is being transmitted person-to-person...

As of 4 pm on 5/4/12 the latest formation about the outbreak is as follows:
46 cases
7 hospitalizations
Age range of those getting ill is 4 ? 79 with a median age is 34
60% of cases are female

http://www.buncombecounty.org/News_Detail.aspx?newsID=12297

[Emily]

Re: Recall: 12-ounce Packages of Smiling Hara Unpasteurized Soybean Tempeh - Salmonella

The article below says this a rarer strain called Salmonella Paratyphi B that is less virulent, but more easily transmitted than other strains. There is traceback work being done to see if the spore culture contained the strain and if so, to see where else that might have been used.

To avoid the risk of this strain of salmonella, you'd need to either cook the tempeh or buy pasteurized tempeh, (or tempeh from a firm that tests consistently.)

FSN Video: Smiling Hara Tempeh Salmonella Outbreak