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theogeo, flickr
For the third time in less than a week, the FDA has issued yet another a nationwide recall of pistachios due to Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by California’s second largest pistachio processor. The warning comes only weeks after a massive peanut butter recall blamed for causing more than 600 illnesses and several deaths. So far, at least two people have reported falling ill after eating pistachios, though investigators haven't yet established a direct link to the tainted pistachios.
Setton Pistachio has voluntarily halted all distribution of processed pistachios and is recalling approximately 1 million pounds of its products, the entirety of its 2008 crop. The Terra Bella, Calif. company supplies pistachios to 36 wholesalers who repackage and resell the nuts in ice cream, cake and trail mixes, and countless other prepared snacks.
The pistachio contamination first came to the attention of federal food safety officials on on March 24, when Kraft Foods informed the FDA that the Setton-supplied pistachios in its Back to Nature Trail Mix were contaminated with "several types of" Salmonella. The foodborne gastrointestinal illness can trigger temporary symptoms—including fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and diarrhea—that can last from four to two weeks without proper treatment. However, the bacteria can cause severe and sometimes fatal reactions in young children, pregnant women, the elderly and individuals with compromised immune systems.
Consumers are being warned not to eat:
- Ralph's Private Selection Shelled Pistachios in 10-ounce containers with a 'Sell by' date of 12-13-09 and 12-14-09 with the UPC Code 11110 73615.
- Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix sold in 28 oz. bags, UPC code 59283-00020 and a “best by” date between 08-20-09 and 12-12-09; and 10 oz. bags, UPC code 59283-31039 and a “best by” date between 11-04-09 and 12-12-09.
- Georgia Nut Company bulk wholesale and retail products sold in stores in Illinois and Wisconsin in bulk or custom-packaged bags between Dec. 5 and March 25.
Stores in 31 states are included in the sweeping recall, including Kroger; Ralphs; Fred Meyer; Fry’s; King Soopers; Smith’s; Dillons; QFC; City Market; Foods Co.; Jay C; Scott’s; Owen’s; Baker's; Gerbes; Hilander and Pay Less. The FDA expects its searchable list of recalled pistachio products to grow in the coming days. We'll keep you posted.
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Does anyone else find it ironic that this bacterium (which we are supposed to be cautious of when handling animal products) repeatedly is found contaminating plant products instead? Pistachios, peanuts, spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, etc. I have yet to hear of a salmonella "outbreak" due to chicken. I hope our government isn't slow as a slug in finding the source this time, or we'll end up with our elected officials trying to shove yet another questionable "food safety" law down our throats (like HR 875).
yea, why is that? Are these nut outbreaks from poor sanitation (rat droppings?) during processing or what? After the spinach scare, FDA was talking about banning any animals from the fields (they thought maybe the original source was some wild animal of some sort (maybe peter rabbit pooping on a leaf). Of course, with the mass production pre-wash processes, they might add safety in many respects but can also take one little spot of badness and rinse it out all over the rest of the batch of whatever.
It's very worry some. The Organic standards are pretty strict about heating compost and not applying it to close to harvest time. I now grow anything I don't cook before eating (like lettuce) inside the seriously fenced in kitchen garden to keep the wild things out. But I don't know what to do about the other produce fields where the beans and winter squash etc. are planted. I can keep out the deer and cattle, but there's always some raccoon or rabbit or mouse getting in there under the fences - it's the natural world after all.
I don't know what to do about it, beyond posting a sign at the Farmer's Market saying
"It's Organic. It's still grown in dirt. Wash your produce before you eat it." I bring a big water cooler with me, so folks can rinse of the carrot they want to feed the hungry kid hanging off 'em but I don't know what else to do.