WASHINGTON – CVS Pharmacies announced Sunday that it has voluntarily recalled select cases of Gold Emblem Abound Organic Spiced Herbal Tea following notification from the manufacturer that the product is potentially contaminated with Salmonella, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the day after the agency announced a different food recall for frozen vegetables.
An ingredient produced by the manufacturer’s raw material supplier tested positive for Salmonella in another company’s product. CVS Pharmacy’s Gold Emblem product also contains this ingredient, said the company in a statement.
The product is labeled “Gold Emblem Abound Organic Spiced Herbal Tea 1.41 oz” and was packed in 1.4 oz cartons. The recalled product has a single best by date of 18 Mar 2018 with a UPC code 0 50428 541043. No other best by dates are impacted. The product was available at CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide.
Salmonella is an organism that 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.
Approximately 200 units of the recalled product were sold prior to this recall, according to CVS and there are no reported cases of illness related to this product. CVS said it has issued this voluntary recall as a matter of precaution.
CVS Pharmacy said they have removed the impacted products from its stores and the manufacturer has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A “do not sell” block has also been placed in the CVS store’s registers to prevent further sale of these recalled items.
The agency suggest that any customer who purchased the recalled product should immediately discontinue use and return the item to CVS Pharmacy for a refund.
