Goldfish crackers among products affected by salmonella contamination

The public health alert issued by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service for foods that contain whey powder is having a ripple effect on the food production industry.

According to a 2017 study, whey powder is used to modify texture, thicken foods, gel foods and to enhance solubility and transportability of foods.

The whey powder made by Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI) is being recalled due to the possibility that it was contaminated with salmonella.

Symptoms of salmonella begin 12 to 72 hours after a person is infected and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping. This can last about four to seven days, and most individuals recover without treatment. However, those who develop severe diarrhea may need to be hospitalized. Those who are very young, who are very old or who have compromised immune systems are most at risk for complications and severe cases of illness.

No illnesses have been reported so far due to these recalls, but consumers should not eat any of the recalled foods because they could make you sick.

Here are some food companies that distribute products containing whey, which have been affected by the threat of salmonella contamination:

– Mondelez LLC announced a recall of numerous varieties of Ritz crackers

– Pepperidge Farm issued a recall for four varieties of its Goldfish crackers that were distributed nationwide. The recalled crackers include Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion, Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar and Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel. Whey powder is an ingredient in a seasoning “applied to” these items, according to the company

– Flowers Foods recalled Swiss rolls. There have been no reports of illness from Swiss rolls, according to the company. Swiss rolls sold nationwide under the brand names Mrs. Freshley’s, Food Lion, H-E-B, Baker’s Treat, Market Square, and Great Value

– Pinnacle Foods, Inc. recalled 15.25 oz Hungry Man Chipotle BBQ Sauced Boneless Chicken Wyngz with a best buy date of 9/6/19. The recalled frozen microwavable dinners have the establishment number “EST. P138” or “P-138” on the package. They were shipped to retailers in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The recall is due to whey powder used in ranch dressing that is a seasoning in the mashed potatoes and with the boneless chicken that are part of the meals.

CNN’s Debra Goldschmidt and Ashley Strickland contributed to this story.