Salmonella was detected last week in a common flavoring used in thousands of products on grocery store shelves. As a result, nearly a hundred types of everyday prepared food products as well as organic, vegetarian and vegan foods are being recalled, and more affected products are likely to surface. Here’s what you need to know.Photo Credit: richardmasoner

The tainted ingredient at the center of this spate of recalls is a flavoring known as hydrolyzed vegetable protein. It’s added to prepared sauces, soups, dips, snacks, hot dogs and other prepared foods and meals, and an investigation into the contamination of certain food products was tracked back to Las Vegas-based company Basic Food Flavors. Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which can contain monosodium glutamate, or MSG, may also show up in package ingredients lists as “natural flavor,” according to truthinlabeling.org. However, the Food and Drug Administration is updating its list of specific recalled foods with the tainted ingredient as soon as the products are identified. Photo Credit: vauvau

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that comes from the digestive tract of animals as well as humans, and can cause serious infections in the very young, old and weak. For people who are in better shape, salmonella bacteria can cause nausea, stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea. In this case, the bacteria was found in hydrolyzed vegetable protein powder and paste and on Basic Food Flavors processing equipment, according to the FDA, which says the contamination has not led to any illnesses. “Our investigators were able to identify this problem before any illnesses occurred," said the FDA. Here are some of the grocery items you should discard if they’re in your kitchen. Photo Credit: nutloaf

T. Marzetti-brand Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip (full fat and fat-free versions) Size: 15.5-ounce plastic tubs of full-fat version; 13-ounce plastic tubs of fat-free version Best-by dates: APR2010F, APR2810F, MAY1610F, MAY3110F, JUN0610F, JUN1410F, JUN1910F, and the UPC number 70200 52004 for full-fat, and MAY1610F, MAY3010F, JUN0810F, JUN1210F, JUN2510F and the UPC number 70200 52033 for fat free. Photo Credit: marzetti.com

T. Marzetti-brand Spinach Veggie Dip Size: 15-ounce plastic tubs or 340-gram plastic tubsBest-by dates: APR1910F, MAY0910F, JUN0710F and the UPC number 70200 52059 or 10AL11F, 10AL17F, 10AL24F, 10AL30F, 10MA08F, 10JN12F and the UPC number 70200 58843. Photo Credit:marzetti.com

Oak Lake Farms French onion dip Size: 16-ounce plastic tubsBest-by dates: APR2310F, JUN1110F, JUN2610F and UPC number 73534 43480 Photo Credit: VirtualErn

Great Value brand Ranch Chip Dip made by T. Marzetti Size: 16-ounce plastic tubsBest-by dates: 042810F, 050810F, 052910F, 053010F, 053110F, 060410F, 060510F, 061110F and UPC number 78742 43099. Photo Credit: Brad.K

French Dip Powdered Au Jus from Johnny’s Fine Foods Size: Six-ounce bottles and 1.1-ounce foil packets Best-by dates: listed as “0332” and “02212” respectively. Photo Credit: fda.gov

Castella brand Chicken Soup Base Size: One-pound plastic jars and 25-pound white buckets.Lot numbers: 0912039918, 1001121915, 1002013074, and 1002194266 with the expiration dates 12-3-2010 through 2-28-2011 and lot numbers 0911259508, 0911259508A, 0912150738, 0912180973, 0912211087, 1001192342, 1001282925, 1002194267 with the expiration dates 11-25-2010 through 2-28-2011 and the UPC numbers 7 50144 33000 5 or 7 501144 3320 9. Photo Credit: fda.gov

Various packages of Tim's Cascade Snacks Sweet Maui Onion flavored chips and onion rings. For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov. Photo Credit: fda.gov

Follow Your Heart Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing by Earth Island Size: 128-ounce containersBest-by dates: JUN 14 10, UPC number 0-49568-66128-5. Photo Credit: whitneyinchicago

Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing & Dip by Earth Island Size: 12-ounce container Best-by dates: JUN 13 10, UPC number 0069-6890 Photo Credit: whitneyinchicago

Dips sold as Wal-Mart (Stock Quote: WMT) store-brand items as well as those with a Reser’s label, include ranch, clam, French onion, cheese and bacon, and redskin potato. For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov. Photo Credit: resers.com

Herb Ox beef, chicken and vegetable bouillons Sizes: 1.13-ounce, 4-ounce, 7.05-ounce packages. For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov. Photo Credit: hormelfoods.com

French onion and vegetable dips, onion gravy mix and cornbread stuffing mix UPC numbers: 52100168609, 52100063850, 52100098807 and 5210057199. For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov. Photo Credit: mccormick.com

These were made by National Pretzel Company and sold under several names as well as Safeway (Stock Quote: SWY) and CVS (Stock Quote: CVS) store brands. For more information including package sizes, best-by dates, product codes and individual packaging, visit fda.gov. Photo Credit: j.reed

Homemade Gourmet brand Tortilla Soup Mix Size: 1.96-ounce packages Best-by dates: S1004812411 and S1004912111, sold 2/17/2010 through 3/1/2010. Photo Credit: fda.gov

Follow Your Heart brand Cheezy Garlic Pasta made by Earth Island Size: 8-ounce containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/06/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01006-9. Photo Credit: littlebluehen

Follow Your Heart Smoked "Chicken" Pasta from Earth Island Size: 8-ounce and 7-pound containers Best-by dates: Use By: 11/10/09 through 03/14/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01076-2 or 11/10/09 through 03/14/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04076-9. Photo Credit: balise42

Follow Your Heart Heartsmart Burger from Earth Island Size: 7-ounce containers Best-by dates: Use By: 11/10/09 through 03/19/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01098-4. Photo Credit: followyorheart.com

Follow Your Heart Veggie Burrito with Cheese from Earth Island Size: 12-ounce containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/05/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01070-0. Photo Credit: norwichnuts

Thai Peanut Tofu, Thai Peanut Tofu Wrap, Thai Peanut Braised Tofu Size: 10-ounce package tofu by itself, 12 ounce wrap, 8-pound braised tofu containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01028-1; 11/10/09 through 03/11/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01034-2 and 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04407-1. Photo Credit: Laurel Fan

Follow Your Heart Braised Tofu Size: 10-ounce and 8-pound containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 for the smaller and 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 for the larger packages, and UPC numbers 0-49568-07025-4 and 0-49568-01001-4. Photo Credit: stu spivack

Follow Your Heart brand Curried Tofu with Rice made by Earth Island Size: 7-pound containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04011-0 or 11/10/09 through 03/09/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04011-0. Photo Credit: avlxyz

Follow Your Heart Savory Tofu Sauté Earth Island Size: 7-pound containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/10/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04014-1. Photo Credit: rick

Follow Your Heart Kung Pao Tofu and Kung Pao Tofu with Rice Size: 10-ounce and 7-pound containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 UPC 0-49568-01023-6; 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 UPC 0-49568-04003-5. Photo Credit: ricardo.martins

Follow Your Heart Size: 10-ounce and 7-pound containers Best-by dates: 11/10/09 through 03/10/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-01038-0; 11/10/09 through 03/10/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04014-1. Photo Credit: YoAmes

Follow Your Heart Sweet & Sour Tofu from Earth Island Size: 7 pound containers Best-by dates: Use By: 11/10/09 through 03/08/10 with the UPC number 0-49568-04430-9. Photo Credit: Lizard10979

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