Sonoma County warns of salmonella-tainted spices after two people fall ill

<p>Sonoma County health officials are urging consumers to avoid spices manufactured by the Union City food company tied to an outbreak of an unusual type of salmonella</p><p>Two elderly women from Sonoma County are among the 42 people in four states who have become ill from Salmonella Rissen, said Mary Maddux-Gonzalez, Sonoma County health officer.</p><p>The products linked to the outbreak, white and black pepper, are made by Union International Food Co. and are packaged under the Lian How brand name, according to a statement released by the California Department of Public Health.</p><p>Of the 42 cases, 33 have been reported in Northern and Central California. No deaths have been reported.</p><p>“It’s unusual to see this type of salmonella and to see this many cases,” said Maddux-Gonzalez. “The main message here is to avoid these products.”</p><p>Maddux-Gonzalez said one of the elderly women became ill last September and the second woman fell ill earlier this month. Both women also had “other medical conditions,” she said.</p><p>Every year, an average of 47 cases of salmonella are reported in the county. So far this year, 16 cases have been reported, she said.</p><p>But it was the rare nature of Salmonella Rissen that likely raised flags among state and federal health officials, she said.</p><p>Incidents of salmonella illness are reported by the county to the state, which in turn reports them to federal health officials.</p><p>State officials said most of the people involved in the unusual outbreak had eaten at Asian restaurants that were using black and/or white pepper purchased from Union International Food Co.</p><p>Maddux-Gonzalez said the two local elderly women were interviewed by epidemiologists but it could not be determined with certainty how they became ill. “In these two cases, we were not able to identify a restaurant or a product that was linked to the illness,” she said.</p><p>At Union International Food Co. Monday a woman who identified herself as a receptionist said company president Daniel Chen was not available for comment because he was in meetings.</p><p>The woman, who identified herself only as Helen, said concerned restaurant and supermarket customers had been calling all day and that “right now everybody is busy.” She said the company was still awaiting FDA testing results.</p><p>State health officials listed a Union International Food Co. phone number for consumers to call if they had any questions. The number — (510) 471-6799 — is listed on the company’s Web site for supermarket customers seeking product information.</p><p>On Monday, a company phone recording stated: “To cooperate with the FDA, we are voluntarily recalling Lian How and Uncle Chen brand dry spices in packaging in 15 pounds or less. We believe all products are safe but, uh, being actual careful, check out Web site for complete information.”</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.</p>