March 4/Juneau, Alaska/US State News -- The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation issued the following news release:

Basic Food Flavors Inc. of Las Vegas has initiated a recall of its hydrolyzed protein due to Salmonella contamination. The ingredient is used to enhance flavor, and the notice of its contamination is resulting in the recall of products made with it.

The recall has since expanded, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a list of 56 products including soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressings that may contain a food flavoring contaminated with Salmonella.

The food flavoring in question, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), is made by a small number of companies. HVP is widely used in a large number of products, according to the FDA. This latest recall comes in the wake of a report this week by the Pew Charitable Trusts and Georgetown University that estimates food-borne illnesses cost the U.S. $152 billion annually.

From the March 15, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition