McCormick Recalls 70K Containers of Ground Oregano

McCormick Spice has recalled more than 70,000 containers of ground oregano due to possible salmonella contamination.

The 0.75-oz bottles of ground oregano were shipped to stores between April 4 and Aug. 5. Other sizes and types of oregano (leaves, whole oregano) were not affected, according to McCormick.

On the bottom of the containers are the words “BEST BY AUG. 21 16 and BEST BY AUG. 22 16,” the spice company reported.

Salmonella is a bacteria that causes fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after consumption, and it kills approximately 450 people a year in the U.S. and is responsible for 23,000 hospitalizations, the Centers for Disease Control reports.

While no cases of the sickness have been reported in connection with the ground oregano, McCormick discovered the potential risk when the Food and Drug Administration was conducting an inspection, according to The Daily Record.

The recall was voluntary as a precaution, McCormick said, telling its followers on Facebook: “We sincerely apologize and want to be sure everyone is aware of this recall. We take the safety and quality of our products very seriously.”

There were 74,304 containers shipped worldwide, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

The products were shipped to 40 states and 10 countries, according to Food Safety News.

Affected states include Maryland as well as Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

It was also shipped internationally to Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Indonesia, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Thailand, and the Virgin Islands, according to Food Safety News.

Anyone with questions about the recall or who would like a full refund may contact McCormick Consumer Affairs at 1-800-632-5847 from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Photo Credit: McCormick & Co.