The Food and Drug Administration’s decision raised alarm bells again about food safety in the United States (FDA) will announce the recall of thousands of units of salad dressing distributed across the country. The action was taken after the presence of “plastic material” was discovered in one of the ingredients used in manufacturing, a finding that led to the incident being classified as a moderate health risk.
The recall involves products from California-based Ventura Foods and affects more than 3,500 packages of dressings sold nationwide. Brands involved include Hidden Valley Ranchone of the most popular and recognized in the US market, which increased concerns among consumers and authorities.
According to the official FDA report, Ventura Foods voluntarily initiated the recall on November 6th. Later, on December 4, the federal agency classified the action as a class II withdrawal. This category indicates that consumption or exposure to the affected products could cause harm temporary or medically reversible side effectsalthough this usually does not cause serious or lasting health consequences.
The investigation revealed that “foreign bodies” were found in the dressing, specifically “black plastic planting material” that was present in the onion granules used as an ingredient. Although it was not described in detail how this material entered the production chain, the discovery was considered serious enough to warrant the immediate withdrawal of the at-risk batches.
The products covered by the measure include various types of dressings and sauces, including Italian Salad Dressing, Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip, Ventura Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing and Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch. All recalled products are large containers, primarily one-gallon bottles or formats intended for use in food service settings such as restaurants, dining rooms and deli counters.
With this in mind, the FDA clarified that standard-sized products sold in supermarkets for home consumption do not appear to be affected by the recall. Still, the warning raised concerns because many of these dressings are distributed to commercial kitchens and may have been used as ingredients in ready-to-eat foods.
The number of recalled products was widespread. According to the regulator, the associations were sufficient seven retail chains operating in 42 outlets across different states. These include Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Additionally, it was confirmed that a customer in Costa Rica also received affected products.
Given the fallout from the case, a spokesperson for Hidden Valley sought to reassure consumers. In statements about NBCChicago, assured that the brand’s products sold directly in retail outlets are not affected by the recall. He explained that the article mentioned was a professional version of Hidden Valley Original Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and Dip, in gallon format, which was intended exclusively for food service use and was never distributed to the general public, according to the company. The spokesperson emphasized that the recall was initiated by Ventura Foods, an external production partner.
The FDA advised consumers and establishments that may have purchased the affected products not to consume them under any circumstances. Instead, they must return them to the point of purchase for a full refund. The warning is particularly relevant because some of these dressings could be used in the preparation of prepared meals, even if those meals were not manufactured directly by Ventura Foods.
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