Pistachio Recalls

Another crop not normally associated with salmonella, a bacteria most known to effect animal products, has become the latest item to be pulled from the shelves. Pistachios are the latest victim in what seems to be a sudden increase in salmonella contamination. It was only a few months ago that the national peanut butter recall due to salmonella jolted the food industry now consumers are being advised to stay away from pistachios and products containing the nut that came from a specific distributor. Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. is the California nut grower and processor at the center of the latest recall. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the recall will include products in which pistachios were used as an ingredient.
It all started when Kraft Foods Inc.’s Back to Nature trail mix tested positive for the bacteria (which can be fatal in young children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system). Setton also may have distributed contaminated shelled and unshelled pistachios to Kroger Co., and Wal-Mart which produces Sam’s Choice private brand of pistachios. The Setton recall will involve more than 2 million pounds of pistachios. Kraft is recalling more than two dozen products containing pistachios under the Planter‘s and Back to Nature brands. Many grocery stores are following suit by pulling any items containing the nut from their shelves until they receive further information about the safety of the products. Diamond Food Inc. and some distributors of private label pistachios such as Walgreen Co. say their goods did not come from Setton therefore are not contaminated.
Though pistachios are not consumed as widely as peanuts, they do make their way into many products including ice cream and Middle Eastern pastries such as baklava. Source




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