To our valued customers,

Like you we are very concerned about recent news reports regarding contaminated jalapeno peppers, fresh tomatoes and food-borne illness.  We recognize that many of you will have questions and concerns.

Our products are safe to eat.  For years we’ve followed strict food safety guidelines specifically designed to prevent contamination.  These steps include several sanitizing treatments of each raw vegetable to kill contaminants, controlling the acidity (pH) of the product to prevent any bacteria from growing, and only using produce from known, tested sources.  To validate our process we conduct “challenge tests” using samples of our products which are purposely contaminated by outside laboratories then tested.  Those tests show that our products are safe.  Without getting too technical, our PhD food scientist assures us that these steps are equivalent in effectiveness to pasteurization, which for decades has been the “gold standard” of food safety.

It’s also important to point out the FDA said processed salsa is not under investigation (Wall St. Journal, July 5, 2008, Page 1).  They recognize that products like ours contain the needed safeguards to assure full food safety.

The recent reports about raw jalapeno peppers do not affect our products.  We do not use raw jalapenos (we do use heat-pasteurized jalapenos in a handful of recipes, but pasteurization assures their safety).  Furthermore our sources are California-based and provide us with testing records that demonstrate their products are safe and wholesome.  Consumers should heed the FDA’s advisories, but because we do not use raw jalapenos there is no cause for concern.

We stand behind every product we make, so if you still have concerns please contact us.  We want to assure all our valued customers that we’re aware of – and very concerned about – these recent news reports.  Our prayers and sympathies are with those who have been affected.  For over 24 years our company’s products have been safe, wholesome and trustworthy and they continue to be the best quality, safest fresh salsa products you can buy.

Sincerely,

Santa Barbara Salsa Co.