by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Department of Public Health and Social Services is warning the public about a voluntary recall of Daniella brand mangoes that are distributed by Splendid Products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and International Distributors, Inc. of Guam are warning that some lots of the mangoes may have possible salmonella contamination.

The recalled mangos, a product of Mexico, were sold as individual fruit and sold at various retail stores throughout the U.S. between July 12 and August 29, 2012 and can be identified with by the Daniella brand sticker and one of the following PLU numbers: 3114, 4051, 4311, 4584, or 4959 which is indicated on the sticker.

The affected mangos have been linked to a number of recent cases of salmonellosis in Canada, and may be linked to cases in California and perhaps other states.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days. Consumers who believe they may have contracted a Salmonella infection should consult with their healthcare provider.

The Division of Environmental Health (DEH) of this Department is working closely with International Distributors, Inc. (IDI) upon learning that the affected fresh, whole Daniella mangos were distributed by IDI to local retailers, restaurants, and hotels. According to Matt Guzman, Quality Assurance and IT Manager, "Of the affected cases IDI received on 8/21/12, we were able to retrieve 66% of the batch from 12 customers. The remaining 33% or 10 cases of affected product, is un-retrievable on our end [since the items were either consumed or purchased from our customers]." IDI stated that "our highest priority is the safety and welfare of the consumer. We are committed to the highest standards of food safety and will continue to rigorously pursue the highest food safety standards possible." The DEH encourages the public to determine whether any of the affected mangos are in their homes or facilities. Consumers who have purchased any of the affected mangos are asked to return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

To date, the Department has not received any local reports of illnesses associated with consumption of the affected Daniella mangos.

Consumers with questions or concerns about the recall may contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at (866) 918-8758 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time; Saturday, September 1, 2012 from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) for more information or visit their website at www.fda.gov. Consumers may also obtain a copy of the press release from Splendid Products at their website, www.splendidmangos.com.