Dunkin' Donuts Salmonella Recall: Dunkaccino, Hot Chocolate Risk

by Tina Kells | July 1, 2009 at 09:08 am

1098 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Dunkin' Donuts has initiated a voluntary recall after reports from the FDA that its Dunkaccino brand beverages and hot chocolate may have been exposed to salmonella at the manufacturer. The Dunkin' Donuts salmonella recall is 100% voluntary and there is no indication of any illness striking customers.

The Dunkin' Donuts recall was issued in reaction to an FDA alert sent out earlier in the week that equipment at a Plainview Milk Products Cooperative plant in Plainview, Minnesota may have been contaminated with salmonella. Plainview Milk Products Cooperative recalled some products over the possible salmonella contamination.

None of the products in the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative salmonella recall are sold directly to consumers and there have been no reports of illness. Both the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative warning and Dunkin' Donuts salmonella recall are totally voluntary.

"This recall is an appropriate precaution to protect public health,” said David W.K. Acheson, M.D., associate commissioner for foods in the Food and Drug Administration. “It reflects the concerted efforts of numerous partners at the local, state, and federal levels."

During an investigation of the Plainview facility, FDA found that some of the equipment was contaminated with Salmonella. At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not linked any human illnesses to potentially contaminated products from the Plainview facility.

The FDA became aware of this problem through the U. S. Department of Agriculture. USDA found Salmonella in Dairyshake powder, in 100-gram pouches that were not for retail sale. The FDA began an investigation as to the source of the contamination. In the course of that investigation, Plainview Milk Products was identified as a supplier of a key ingredient in the Dairyshake powder. Inspection of the firm uncovered conditions that resulted in the broader recall.

The FDA is conducting this investigation in collaboration with USDA, CDC, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and state and local health departments.

Dunkin' Donuts Dunkaccino and hot chocolate were not among the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative products identified by the FDA as at risk for salmonella exposure, but Dunkin' Donuts did not want to take any chances. Dunkin' Donuts has 6,400 stores in the United States.

The voluntary recall by Dunkin' Donuts may be a precautionary measure prompted by the Peanut Corporation of America scandal in January 2009, where an initially small peanut product salmonella recall spiraled into an international incident. Plainview Milk Products Cooperative is an American supplier of instant nonfat dried milk and whey protein.

Dunkin' Donuts emphasized that its decision was voluntary and precautionary.

"We have confirmed that no Dunkin’ Donuts products were contaminated," the chain said in a statement. "However, we have made the decision to temporarily withdraw the beverages from our stores to ensure the safety of our customers. No other Dunkin’ Donuts products were subject to this withdrawal. We expect to have these products back in stores shortly, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our customers."