FDA warns consumers to avoid pistachio products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to avoid eating pistachio products while it investigates reports that some have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

Currently, the FDA and the California Department of Public Health are investigation Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, California. 
That company has stopped all distribution of its processed pistachios and will be recalling 1 million pounds of its products.

“Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely this recall will impact many products,” the FDA said. 

The FDA will post a searchable database of recalled pistachio products on its Web site.

“Thus far, several illnesses have been reported by consumers that may be associated with the pistachios. It is not yet known whether any of the Salmonella strains found in the pistachio products are linked to an outbreak,” the FDA said.

Salmonella is a bacterium thats causes a gastrointestinal infection. People infected with the bacteria typically develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection.

Most people recover within 4 to 7 days without treatment, but infants, the elderly, and those with impaired immune systems are at risk of developing more severe infections in which the bacteria enters the bloodstream and infects other parts of the body.

Such infections can be fatal and should be treated with antibiotics, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To learn more:

• Read the press release from the FDA below.
• Visit the FDA’s Web site.
• Read LocalHealthGuides story below on Kroger’s recall of its shelled pistachio product.

FDA Alerts Consumers to Recall of Certain Pistachios
FDA and California Inspectors Identify Salmonella

The FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are investigating Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, Calif.

The company has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and will issue a voluntary recall involving approximately 1 million pounds of its products.

Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely this recall will impact many products. In addition, the investigation at the company is ongoing and may lead to additional pistachio product recalls.

The contamination involves multiple strains of Salmonella. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Thus far, several illnesses have been reported by consumers that may be associated with the pistachios. It is not yet known whether any of the Salmonella strains found in the pistachio products are linked to an outbreak. The FDA is conducting genetic testing of the samples to pursue all links.

FDA is working closely with the pistachio industry and recommends that consumers avoid eating pistachio products until further information is available about the scope of affected products.

FDA will provide a searchable database of affected products at www.fda.gov and will continue to update the public.

FDA first learned of the problem on March 24, when it was informed by Kraft Foods that its Back To Nature Trail Mix was found to be contaminated with Salmonella. Kraft had identified the source of the contamination to be pistachios from Setton and conducted a recall.

Tags: CDC, FDA, Pistachios, Product Recall, Salmonella

Category: Digestive System, Food-borne Infections, Infections, Product Recall