Shemshad Food Pulls Back Pickles Due to Poison Risk

We've got some important food safety news to share with you today. The California Department of Public Health is sending out a warning: please do not eat certain jarred food items from Shemshad Food. These foods were made without the proper checks, which could mean they are not safe to eat.

These are the Shemshad Food jarred products you should stay away from:

• Litteh Pickle

• Pickled Diced Vegetables (except for one lot code SD31123125)

• Pickled Eggplants

• Pickled Garlic (except for one lot code SG31223125)

• Pickled HaftBijar

All of these could possibly have a dangerous germ called Clostridium botulinum. If this germ is in the food, and someone eats it, they could get really sick, or even worse. This is super serious.

These products were sold in some grocery stores in Southern California. If you see these at any store, the health department would like to know. You can call them at 800-495-3232 to tell them about it.

Back in January 2024, the department told Shemshad Food that they needed to fix some things. The company, located in Los Angeles, is now saying "Sorry!" and taking back its Litteh Pickle, Pickled Diced Vegetables, Eggplant, Garlic, and HaftBijar products. These items come in 16 ounce glass jars with metal lids.

The sneaky thing about this germ is that you can't see it or smell it, so it's really hard to tell if the food is bad. If you have any jars of these foods or made any meals with them, you should throw them out right away. Be sure to put them in two plastic bags, seal them tight, and then toss them in the trash outside of the house. And don’t forget, it’s a good idea to wear gloves when handling these jars, or wash your hands super well afterward.

Botulism, the illness caused by this germ, is rare but can make you very weak and sick. You might have blurry vision, droopy eyelids, or a sore throat to start with. Other symptoms like trouble talking, swallowing, and muscle weakness can happen too. For little ones, it's extra super serious as they can be really sleepy, not want to eat, be constipated, and have a weak cry.

If you think you might be sick from eating these products, go see a doctor or get to the hospital right away. Your health is important, so don't wait around!

That's the scoop, everyone. Please be safe with what you eat and take good care of yourselves!

Image via Shemshad Food