In today’s society, many people are very concerned with what they put into their bodies. People want to know where their food is coming from and what it is made of. For many people, these desires stem from wanting to be as healthy as possible. However, for others their own safety is their main concern.
Food allergy awareness has grown over the last few decades. People now know just how dangerous certain foods can be. Peanuts in particular can be deadly. People trust that food manufacturers pay careful attention to their food products to ensure that allergens do not find their way into food.
Unfortunately, not all companies take this job seriously. Recently, this has led to a serious food contamination, product recall and potential consumer injury. According to reports, a spice sent to stores around the country has been contaminated with peanuts.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, products made with the spice cumin have been cross contaminated with peanuts. Many products containing the spice — including seasoning mixes, chilies and black beans — now contain trace amounts of the peanut protein. This could be very dangerous to those that are highly sensitive to peanut proteins. The contamination was first discovered by a Texas company that used the spice, but has spread to several more companies across the nation. On Feb. 13, another company recalled black beans and black bean soup for peanut contamination because of the contaminated cumin.
When a dangerous product — like allergy contaminated food– leads to injuries, the manufacturer may be held liable under product liability laws. People who have been injured by dangerous or negligently manufactured products should understand their legal rights.
Source: LA Weekly, “Multiple Companies Recall Cumin Products For Possible Peanut Contamination,” Samantha Bonar, Feb. 23, 2015.
