There's a potential contamination issue for more than 24,000 pounds of an ingredient used in homemade salad dressings and marinades.
The FDA Just Upgraded a Spice Recall to the Nation’s Highest Risk Level
Published on Jul. 10, 2025
Eggs and milk are essential foods found on most grocery lists, but they’re just two kitchen staples that have been recalled due to the threat of Salmonella contamination—and that’s not to mention a massive cucumber recall that prompted Walmart and other major retailers to pull produce from shelves just a few weeks ago. Now, one U.S. agency says there’s a new recall to be aware of.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an update for an ongoing recall of 24,694 pounds of whole organic celery seed from The Whole Herb Company, Inc.
Celery seed is a spice that brings “earthy flavor” to recipes for marinades, soups, salad dressings, and even homemade pickles, says renowned spice company McCormick.
The FDA says “potential contamination with Salmonella” prompted the recall. According to the Cleveland Clinic, an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria can involve symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach pains. Often referred to as “Salmonella,” this sickness is the most common form of food poisoning in the U.S.
Though the recall was evidently first issued on May 27, the agency didn’t assign a risk designation—Class I—until this week. A Class I recall is the FDA’s most severe warning, reserved for products that can cause serious health issues or death.
The recalled celery seed was apparently distributed to one state, Iowa, though it’s not specified if the product went to consumers, retailers, wholesalers, or another type of vendor.
Product details include:
- Whole Herb Celery Seed Whole Organic
- Labeled as: CELERY SEED WHL OG
- Net Wt: 56.25 Lbs
- Whole Herb Item #: CEL10010
- Whole Herb Lot #: 003150ST
- Supplier Item #: CEL-15698
- Supplier Lot #: 3-34086
In total, 439 bags of celery seed are affected, with each bag weighing 56.25 pounds. Given the weight of the bags, it seems possible the product went to restaurants or other foodservice establishments that use spices on a large scale.
The listed distributor, The Whole Herb Company, Inc. of Sonoma, California, says it’s “a direct importer of organic and conventional raw ingredients supplying the Food, Beverage, Nutraceutical, Personal and Pet Care industries” on its website.
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