Import Alert 99-19

"Detention Without Physical Examination Of Food Products Due To The Presence Of Salmonella"

Recently, the Northeast Regional Laboratory found a sample of dried fruit, namely dried lychee from the Peoples Republic of China, to contain Salmonella. In the past, other imported food such as spices, chocolate candy, sesame products, including halawa and tahini, and food products containing dried egg or nonfat dry milk, such as pasta and egg noodles, have also been found to be contaminated with Salmonella.

This alert provides for manufacturers and shippers, from multiple countries, to be placed on detention without physical examination for food products found to contain Salmonella.

Note: This alert does not cover seafood and seafood products which are covered by import alerts under Industry Code 16 nor the following products: coconut and coconut products (See Import Alert #23-12); black pepper from India and Brazil (See Import Alerts #28-02 and 28-04 respectively).

Districts may ***Detain***, without physical sampling and analysis, products from manufacturers and shippers listed in the attachment to this alert.

Continued surveillance of food products that are susceptible to Salmonella contamination is also warranted.

When districts encounter shipments of food products which are violative for Salmonella, a recommendation for ***detention without physical examination*** and background information, including analytical worksheets, should be forwarded to DIOP, HFC-170.

Because the presence of Salmonella in a food product represents a health hazard, only one violative shipment may be needed to place a firm/product on detention without physical examination.

See Attachment

"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to bear or contain Salmonella, a poisonous or deleterious substance, which may render it injurious to health, [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(1)]."

OASIS charge code - SALMONELLA