In an unusual move, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., released a statement on July 24 regarding the voluntary recall of certain products that contain whey powder that may be contaminated with Salmonella. FDA stated that they are working with Mondelēz International, Inc., Pepperidge Farm Inc. and Flowers Foods, Inc. to initiate voluntarily recalls of certain products, including varieties of Goldfish and Ritz crackers, several brands of swiss roll dessert products, and Hungry Man frozen microwaveable dinners. The Hungry Man products fall under the jurisdiction of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) because they contain poultry, but the other voluntarily recalled products are within FDA’s jurisdiction.

It is currently not known how many food companies used the potentially contaminated whey powder, and there may be other recalls initiated in the coming days. However, federal officials have not received any reports of confirmed Salmonella illnesses related to the recalled foods. Commissioner Gottlieb made clear that these recalls are being initiated because of the potential risk and out of an abundance of caution, and that the FDA is actively engaged in the investigation.

When recalls involve food and food ingredients that are sold only on a business-to-business basis, the FDA has not historically revealed the companies involved, as such information is said to be protected as “confidential corporate information.” However, in the instant matter, both FDA and USDA named Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), a Minnesota-based milk company, as the ingredient supplier. Perhaps in an effort to mitigate the effects of the potential contamination, Commission Gottlieb stated that because the products are widely consumed, FDA is “taking steps to intervene early on this potential risk” and “will be communicating regularly with the public to provide information and updates on this issue.”