The purpose of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to protect and promote the health of America. One of the ways this is done is by monitoring the safety of the nation’s food supply. Occasionally it is necessary to recall food items that have found to be defective or contaminated in some way. The FDA also helps companies raise awareness when they choose to voluntarily recall potentially dangerous products. This was the case this week after a nut butter manufacturer decided to recall its products.
JEM Raw Chocolate, LLC has recalled its full line of nut butter. These food items are believed to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious infections. This infection may be fatal in young children, elderly people or anyone with a weakened immune system. If an individual is healthy, Salmonella may cause fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. In serious cases, this infection can spread into the bloodstream. This may cause an arterial infection, endocarditis and arthritis.
Thus far, eleven illnesses have been reported. No deaths or hospitalizations have been linked to the contamination. The nut butters are sold under the brand name JEM Raw Organics. The affected products were distributed nationwide between June 2015 and November 2015. Consumers that have these items should discard them immediately. The company can be contacted directly for replacement items at http://www.jemraw.com/.
Anyone that has been injured by a defective product may eligible to file a product liability claim. Whether the injury is due to a defective medical device or drug, an attorney may be able to help victims recover the appropriate compensation.
Source: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “JEM Raw Chocolate LLC Voluntarily Recalls Nut Butter spread products due to Possible Health Risk,” Dec. 2, 2015
