The Texas Coffee Company, Inc. of Beaumont, TX, has recalled its 3 ounce and 8 oz. packages of Texjoy red pepper because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled pepper – which is sold in a clear plastic package marked with lot # A29A07A2012, A28A07A2012 & A30A07A2012 – was distributed in retail stores Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.

The potential for contamination was noted after a supplier of the product to the Texas Coffee Company revealed the presence of Salmonella in some of the red pepper they had shipped to Texas Coffee Company.