Recalled Ground Red Pepper Sparks Litigation Between Spice Companies

Adams Extract & Spice has sued Van de Vries Spice Corp. in a New Jersey
federal court alleging damages in excess of $75,000 due to a 2009 spice recall
involving ground red pepper allegedly contaminated with Salmonella. Adams
Extract & Spice, LLC v. Van de Vries Spice Corp., No. 11-00720 (D.N.J.,
filed February 8, 2011). Apparently, Van de Vries sold 11,000 pounds of the
spice to Adams Extract which then incorporated it into various products sold
under its brand name. After learning about the contamination risk, Adams
Extract issued a product recall that allegedly “resulted in significant damages
to Adams Extract.”

Alleging negligence by failure to comply with Food and Drug Administration
standards, breach of contract, breach of warranty, and strict product liability,
Adams Extract seeks compensatory damages, interest, costs, and delay
damages.