Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Baraka Ground black pepper recall: Potential Contamination with Salmonella

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential Contamination with Salmonella

Baraka Other food products — recalled other food productsBaraka Other food products — recalled other food products (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Salmonella contamination

This recall is about Salmonella, so the risk is not only in eating the product — it is in everything the package touched on the way to your kitchen.

What the notice says: UBC Food Distributors in Dearborn Michigan is recalling the Ground Black Pepper under the Baraka brand name in 7oz plastic containers 7oz * 10 With UPC code 8 22514 26626 6 because it has the potential 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.

Why it matters: Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States. It spreads easily from a contaminated product to hands, taps, cloths and other food in the same kitchen.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes salmonellosis as diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps that usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure and last about four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. Children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. Seek care for diarrhoea with a high fever, bloody stools, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine, a dry mouth or dizziness when standing.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
June 3, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Baraka
Product type
Other food products
Distribution
Nationwide
UPC codes
822514266266
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Products covered by this recall

Ground black pepper

What the company announced

UBC Food Distributors in Dearborn Michigan is recalling the Ground Black Pepper under the Baraka brand name in 7oz plastic containers 7oz * 10 With UPC code 8 22514 26626 6 because it has the potential 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.

The recalled "black pepper" were distributed nationwide in retail stores.

The product comes in a 7 ounce, clear plastic package marked with expiration date of January 2026 on the back of the label.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) notified us of the contamination based on a routine state surveillance sample collected by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets that tested positive for Salmonella the presence of Salmonella in some 7 ounce packages of Ground Black Pepper.

Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased 7-ounce container of ground black pepper are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 313-846-8117 Monday to Friday between 9 am to 5 pm.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 4 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 822514266266

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • January 2026

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 7 oz
  • 7 ounce

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Salmonella

Baraka — This recall is about Salmonella, so the risk is not only in eating the product — it is in everything the package touched on the way to your kitchen.

  1. Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.
  2. Watch everyone who ate it for about a week, and call a doctor sooner for a child under five or an adult over 65.
  3. Bag it and bin it, or take it back to the store — do not feed it to pets or livestock either.
  4. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling the pack, and wash any dish, utensil or surface it touched in hot soapy water.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased 7-ounce container of ground black pepper are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: UBC Food Distributors — Consumers: 313-846-8117, [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Baraka other food products recalled?

Potential Contamination with Salmonella UBC Food Distributors in Dearborn Michigan is recalling the Ground Black Pepper under the Baraka brand name in 7oz plastic containers 7oz * 10 With UPC code 8 22514 26626 6 because it has the potential 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.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 822514266266; best-by date January 2026. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased 7-ounce container of ground black pepper are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Where was the recalled product sold?

It was distributed nationwide.

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