Procter & Gamble has announced a voluntary recall of Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger potato crisps and Pringles Family Faves Taco Night potato crisps as a precautionary measure. This action is part of an industry ingredient recall to protect consumers from potential Salmonella exposure. There have been no complaints of illness associated with these products but 50 product recalls have been announced with more anticipated.

Salmonella, often in food and water contaminated with animal feces, is an organism that can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons sometimes experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstance, Salmonella infection can result in the organism entering the bloodstream and producing severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis. Salmonella poisoning can trigger Reiter’s Syndrome, a difficult-to-treat reactive arthritis characterized by severe joint pain, eye irritation, and painful urination.

The FDA has been investigating Salmonella Tennesse in hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), a widely used flavor enhancer, found in various processed food products such as soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips, and dressings. Manufactured by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., in Las Vegas, Nevada., HVP is also often blended with other spices to make seasonings used in or on foods.

A supplier notified P&G that a seasoning used in the two recalled products contains HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., which has recalled various ingredient lots because of potential Salmonella exposure.

Only products with the following “best by” dates, which is printed on the bottom of the can, are included in this recall:

• Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger, Super Stack Canister: 181 grams, UPC code: 37000 26936, with best by dates of 02/2011, 04/2011
• Pringles Family Faves Taco Night, Super Stack Canister: 181 grams, UPC code: 37000 26773, with best buy dates of 03/2011, 04/2011, 05/2011

No other Pringles varieties or flavors are involved in the call back. Consumers who have purchased the affected products should discard them and call P&G for a replacement coupon or refund, toll-free, at 1-877-876-7881, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.