McCormick Products Not Involved in Recent Peanut Contamination of Cumin

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lori Robinson
410-527-6004
Lori_Robinson@mccormick.com

Sparks, Md., (February 19, 2015) – McCormick & Company Incorporated, today released the following statement in response to the FDA Consumer Advisory regarding the recent episodes of peanut contamination of cumin. Please attribute the following points to Roger Lawrence, McCormick Corporate Vice President, Global Quality Assurance.

Due to the FDA Consumer Advisory and increased attention surrounding peanut contamination of cumin in the marketplace, we want to assure the public that no McCormick products are involved. This includes all ground cumin, cumin seed, and seasonings that contain cumin like Taco Seasoning Mix and Chili Powder.

At McCormick, quality and safety are top priorities, and our investment in these areas is the largest in the spice and seasoning industry. Our quality assurance program includes these key practices to ensure the safety of our products, including cumin:

Purity in Sourcing: McCormick sources whole cumin seed, which mitigates the chance for adulteration (like nut shells) that could be encountered by purchasing ground product. Our sourcing organization has a combined total of more than 100 years of experience in the spice trade.

Peanut-free Facilities: We do not handle any peanut materials in our facilities where cumin seeds are cleaned and ground, thereby eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination.

Inspecting, Cleaning and Treating: We inspect every lot for extraneous matter, representing several million ingredient and product analyses each year. In addition, our spices are treated through a steaming process.

For 125 years, McCormick has had an unmatched track record in delivering safe, high-quality products to our consumers. It is important to purchase your spices from a trusted resource. Because of our unwavering commitment to safety and quality, McCormick continues to be the taste you trust.

About McCormick

McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. With $4.2 billion in annual sales, the company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry – retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Every day, no matter where or what you eat, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick. McCormick Brings Passion to Flavor™.