People across the country might want to take a close look at what’s in their freezers after a big recall announcement from a New Jersey company. Chetak LLC, based out of Edison and known for bringing in ethnic foods, has pulled back over 50 types of frozen items because tests showed they could be tainted with Salmonella.
This all started back in July when the first batch of products got flagged, and then things grew in early September with even more added to the list. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is involved, pointing out that these goods went out to shops all over the U.S. They’re mostly sold in those clear plastic bags you see in international markets, with details like lot codes and best-by dates stamped on the back.
The stuff in question was made between late December last year and August this year. As more checks came in, the company decided to widen the net on September 8 to cover everything that might have been affected.
If you’ve got any of these at home, the advice is clear: don’t eat them. Just toss them or take them back to where you bought them for a refund. Salmonella isn’t something to mess with. It can hit hard, especially on kids, seniors, or anyone whose body isn’t at full strength. You might get a fever, upset stomach, throwing up, or cramps, and sometimes it gets worse, spreading to other parts of the body like blood or bones.
One thing health folks are stressing is how frozen items can hang around forever in people’s homes, so even if this news is out, some bags could still be lurking without anyone knowing.
Luckily, nobody’s reported getting sick from these exact products yet. Still, it’s smart to go through your stash, particularly if you shop at places that carry specialty imports.
Here’s the complete rundown of what’s being recalled, straight from the company’s notice (which you can read here to see pictures of the products). We’ve organized it by product name with the lot numbers listed after each one for easy checking:
- Q.C.Ginger 283gm: 25182, 25191, 25192
- Baby Bhindi 340g: 24536, 25007, 25035, 25053, 25078, 25081, 25132, 25163, 25193
- Bhindi Cut 340g: 25008, 25020, 25027, 25036, 25044, 2509, 25063, 25071, 25083, 25086, 25099, 25118, 25121, 25122, 25132, 25134, 25170
- Chikoo Slices 340g: 24356, 24358, 24359, 24361, 24363, 24366, 25002, 25043, 25044, 25045, 25046, 25048, 25050, 25051, 25052, 25053, 25055, 25057, 25059, 25060, 25062, 25063, 25064, 25066, 25067, 25068, 25069, 25070, 25071, 25072, 25080, 25081, 25083, 25084, 25097, 25098, 25099, 25100, 25101, 25102, 25104, 25105, 25106, 25114, 25116, 25118
- Guvar Frozen 340g: 24356, 24361, 25001, 25025, 25031, 25036, 25059, 25062, 25066, 25070, 25080, 25091, 25093, 25098, 25127, 25135, 25148, 25150, 25154, 25189
- Kantola 340g: 25001, 25029, 25050, 25077, 25094
- Karela Ring Cut 340g: 24366, 25042, 25066, 25100, 25105, 25108, 25136
- Methi Blocks 340g: 25009, 25031, 25038, 25063, 25077, 25091, 25097, 25123, 25163, 25196
- Q.C.Garlic 283gm: 25042, 25091, 25092, 25105, 25122, 25132, 25133
- Sambhar Mix 340g: 25016, 25020, 25043, 25048, 25051, 25062, 25076, 25084
- Punjabi Tinda 340g: 25008, 25031, 25042, 25068, 25091, 25105, 25127, 25161, 25196
- Ratalu 340g: 24355, 24360, 25011, 25037, 25072, 25109, 25140, 25193
- Tuver Lilva 680gm: 24359, 24363, 25002, 25007, 25029, 25052, 25069, 25086, 25090, 25095, 25100, 25106, 25107, 25108, 25189
- Suran 340g: 25002, 25005, 25024, 25030, 25043, 25051, 25064, 25076, 25093, 25098, 25108, 25129, 25144, 25173, 25180, 25198
- Surti Papdi Whole 340g: 24363, 25011, 25046
- Surti Papdi Lilva 340g: 24363, 25011, 25028, 25041, 25045, 25050, 25052
- Q.C.Ging Garlic 283g: 25055, 25064, 25070, 25099, 25134, 25182, 25196, 25197, 25198
- Surti Undhiu Mix 340g: 24358, 25024, 25036, 25052, 25070, 25092, 25098, 25125, 25134, 25158, 25188, 25188
- Tindora 340g: 24353, 24360, 25011, 25031, 25035, 25049, 25080, 25084, 25091, 25106, 25113, 25116, 25142, 25145, 25149, 25168, 25171
- Carrot Sliced 340g: 24355, 25042, 25066, 25097, 25127, 25161, 25196
- Val Papdi 340g: 24354, 24361, 25006, 25027, 25037, 25051, 25065, 25070, 25083
- Arvi 340g: 25002, 25031, 25042, 25063, 25091, 25132, 25172, 25196
- Chauri 340g: 24358, 25006, 25032, 25039, 25072
- Bhindi Cut 680g: 25003, 25030, 25044, 25053, 25085, 25099, 25118, 25120, 25122, 25132, 25149, 25164, 25198
- Tindora 680g: 24353, 24360, 25011, 25031, 25056, 25094, 25099, 25120, 25134, 25149, 25172
- Q.C.Green Chilli 283g: 25020, 25021
- Green Chilli(Hot)340g: 25008, 25031, 25038
- Fansi 340g: 24358, 25018
- Tuvar Lilva 340g: 24362, 24363, 24365, 24366, 25003, 25007, 25009, 25010, 25011, 25017, 25034, 25038, 25055, 25065, 25077, 25087, 25088, 25090, 25092, 25106, 25107, 25108, 25111, 25114, 25181, 25197
- Red Baby Onion 340g: 24355, 25008, 25041, 25068, 25071, 25097, 25136
- Dum Aloo 340g: 24355, 25008, 25042, 25066, 25105, 25127
- Green Chana 340g: 25008, 25030, 25050, 25069, 25076, 25097, 25105, 25129, 25162, 25197
- Snake Gourd 340g: 25007, 25030, 25042, 25064, 25066, 25095, 25123, 25130, 25163
- Lotus Root 340g: 25007, 25031, 25042, 25064, 25066, 25095, 25123, 25130, 25163, 25182
- Guvar 907g: 24353, 25010, 25046, 25068, 25093, 25098, 25130, 25173
- Bhindi Cut 907g: 24362, 25010, 25027, 25044, 25079, 25099, 25140, 25150, 25156, 25190
- Garlic Clove 340gm: 25045, 25071, 25106, 25142
- Water Chestnut Singoda: 25004, 25034, 25042, 25067, 25094, 25106, 25121, 25143, 25150, 25165, 25197
- Green Peas 1.75kg: 24356, 25003, 25010, 25022, 25029, 25046, 25051, 25056, 25058, 25069, 25083, 25086, 25102, 25107, 25128, 25135, 25141, 25151, 25164, 25168
- Green Peas 907g: 24354, 24356, 25002, 25016, 25017, 25021, 25028, 25045, 25048, 25055, 25057, 25059, 25064, 25071, 25081, 25084, 25099, 25105, 25109, 25114, 25125, 25142, 25147, 25148, 25154, 25155, 25180, 25196
- Mix Veg 4way 1.75kg: 24354, 25001, 25032, 25035, 25068, 25099, 25100, 25122, 25133, 25160, 25195
- Mix Veg 4 way 907g: 25001, 25020, 25032, 25044, 25072, 25080, 25099, 25122, 25133, 25167, 25198
- Sweet Corn 907g: 25011, 25021, 25043, 25078, 25087, 25099, 25104, 25128, 25170, 25198
- Peas&Carrot 907g: 25006, 25035, 25044, 25072, 25080, 25104, 25114, 25140, 25167
- Red Guava Slices 340g: 25018, 25049, 25081, 25094, 25143, 25165, 25197
- Amla Slices 283g: 24356, 25004, 25042, 25049, 25060, 25067, 25101, 25106, 25123, 25128, 25144, 25151, 25165, 25191
- Methi Chopped 283g: 24356, 24358, 24359, 24360, 24361, 24362, 24363, 24365, 24366, 25001, 25002, 25003, 25004, 25005, 25006, 25008
- Amla 340g: 25004, 25018, 25034, 25049, 25067, 25078, 25094, 25101, 25121, 25129, 25143, 25150, 25165, 25185, 25192
- Dudhi Diced 340g: 25042, 25077, 25146
- Tapioca Diced 340g: 24354, 25023, 25045, 25071, 25086, 25095, 25142
- Avial Mix 400gm: 24354, 25009, 25046, 25065
- Green Garlic 340gm: 24363, 25003, 25007, 25017, 25028, 25039, 25064, 25071, 25095, 25105, 25111, 25126, 25151, 25157
- Sprout Moth 454g: 24353, 25072
- Sprout Moong 454g: 24354, 25058, 25078
- Green Chilli 340g: 24355, 25010, 25045
- Tur.Yellow Haldi 340g: 25027, 25041, 25065, 25106, 25142, 25156
- Falsa 340gm: 25004, 25034, 25049, 25121, 25143, 25150, 25171, 25185
- Jamun 340g: 24355, 24359, 25004, 25060, 25067, 25080, 25101, 25123, 25139, 25141, 25144, 25150, 25157, 25191
- Green Mango 340gm: 25121, 25135, 25147, 25151
For pictures and extra details on packaging, head over to the FDA’s site or the company’s page – they’ve got images there to help spot these items. Stay safe out there, and maybe share this with friends who might have these in their kitchens.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.