March 10, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A government report says the company responsible for a sizable recall of processed foods continued to manufacture and distribute a flavor-enhancing ingredient for a month after tests confirmed it was made with contaminated equipment.

Food and Drug Administration inspectors said that Las Vegas-based Basic Food Flavors, Inc., knew of salmonella contamination on its equipment after it got the results of a private inspection on Jan. 21. The federal officials said the company continued to distribute the ingredient, called hydrolyzed vegetable protein, until Feb. 15.

The FDA began an investigation of the company in response to a report from one of Basic Food Flavors' customers about salmonella contamination.

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