Quality Food Distributor, a food wholesaler based in Las Vegas, Nevada, has recalled more than 50,000lbs of Steamed BBQ Flavored Pork Buns due to the presence of food additive monosodium glutamate (MSG), that is not declared on the label.
According to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the company has pulled 12-lb cases of Steamed BBQ Flavored Pork Buns, with each case containing 96 pork buns.
The product being recalled displays the establishment number - 'EST. 34064' inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The pork buns, subject to recall, were produced between 5 April 2011 and April 4, 2012, and were sold to a distributor in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The company said that the product could have been further distributed to food service establishments such as restaurants.
The presence of monosodium glutamate was discovered by FSIS personnel at the time a label review conducted along with a routine food safety assessment.
FSIS has observed that the MSG was present in the marinade used during the process of cooking and was not displayed on the label of the final product.
Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids.
Used as flavor enhancer, MSG is believed to cause harmful reactions in people sensitive to the chemical, such as headaches, sweating, heart palpitations, chest pain, and nausea.
The FDA allows the inclusion of this chemical on a food label under many descriptive terms, including 'natural flavors', 'autolyzed yeast extract' and 'MSG'.
Although the company has not received any reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products, FSIS warned consumers concerned about a reaction to contact a healthcare provider.
Image: MSG was present in the marinade used during the process of cooking and was not displayed on the label of the final product. Photo: Ragesoss
