Salmonella Scare Prompts Recall by Texas Coffee and Spice Company

A salmonella scare is prompting a Beaumont-based coffee and spice packager into a red pepper recall.

The Texas Coffee Co. is recalling 3- and 8-ounce packages of Texjoy red pepper because of potential contamination by salmonella bacteria. Infection can cause flulike symptoms in otherwise-healthy people and death in young children, frail or elderly people and those with compromised immune systems.

The recalled spice was sold in retailers in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. The clear plastic packages bear lot numbers A29A07A2012, A28A07A2012 and A30A07A2012.

A Texas Coffee statement issued says it received word of the potential contamination from its supplier.

The statement says no illnesses relating to the product have been reported so far. The company says consumers can return pepper covered by the recall to their retailer for a refund. Questions can be directed to 1-800-259-3400.