WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers today to avoid drinking unpasteurized orange juice sold under several brand names by Sun Orchard Inc. of Tempe, Ariz., because of the potential for salmonella contamination.
The agency urged consumers to inquire about the source of any unpasteurized orange juice they may be served.Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals can suffer fever, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, FDA said.
Although Sun Orchard launched a recall in June, the FDA said it was issuing the warning because more lots of potentially contaminated juice have begun showing up.
No illnesses have been reported associated with the latest lots of juice, but more than 200 salmonella cases had been reported in July when FDA issued an earlier warning.
FDA said the unpasteurized juice was distributed to food service establishments in California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Arizona and British Columbia, Canada. They were also sent to one retail store, Zupan Grocery, in Portland, Ore.
The juice is sold under the names Sun Orchard, Sysco, Aloha and Zupan in clear gallon, quart, pint and half-pint containers labeled "9306 Enjoy by 11/18/99," "9307 Enjoy by 11/19/99," "9309 Enjoy by 11/21/99," "9309 Enjoy by 11/22/99," or "9309 Enjoy by 11/23/99."
In was also sold in unlabeled half-pint containers to Epicurean Provisions in Tempe for the Enchantment Resort, FDA said.
Production of the juice has been suspended and the FDA and the company are investigating the source of the contamination.