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Salmonella confirmed at US pistachio nut processing plant
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2009, Wednesday
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OFFICIALS have confirmed they found traces of salmonella in a central California pistachio processing plant that sparked a nationwide recall of the nut.
The Food and Drug Administration said state and federal inspectors discovered the bacteria in "critical areas" at Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, the second-largest pistachio processor in the nation.
FDA officials also said they found places at the facility where raw and roasted nuts could have become cross-contaminated with salmonella.
Setton Pistachio, which sells its nuts to Kraft Foods Inc and 35 other wholesalers across the country, temporarily shut down after voluntarily recalling almost a million kilograms of nuts last week.
The company expanded its recall yesterday to include all raw and roasted pistachios from its 2008 crop.
"The company is working closely with the FDA on this matter and is cooperating fully," Setton spokeswoman Fabia D'Arienzo said. "Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc is committed to quality products and consumer safety, and is taking aggressive action to prevent the need for any future recalls."
Federal regulators say consumers should avoid eating pistachios or foods made with the nuts until they can determine that they don't contain any nuts that Setton has recalled.
The FDA has also advised wholesalers, retailers, and operators of restaurants and food service establishments against selling or serving any pistachios or pistachio products until they can figure out whether they came from Setton.
No illnesses have been reported by consumers.
The contamination was discovered by a Kraft manufacturer in Illinois, where workers doing routine testing found the bacteria in roasted pistachios.
Officials then traced the source back to the Terra Bella plant.
Pistachios are used in everything from ice cream to cake mixes, and the FDA believes more recalls are imminent.
Salmonella, the most common cause of food-borne illness, causes diarrhea, fever and cramping. Most people recover, but the infection can be life-threatening for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
Roasting is supposed to kill the bacteria in nuts. But problems can occur if roasting is not done correctly or if roasted nuts are re-contaminated.
The Food and Drug Administration said state and federal inspectors discovered the bacteria in "critical areas" at Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, the second-largest pistachio processor in the nation.
FDA officials also said they found places at the facility where raw and roasted nuts could have become cross-contaminated with salmonella.
Setton Pistachio, which sells its nuts to Kraft Foods Inc and 35 other wholesalers across the country, temporarily shut down after voluntarily recalling almost a million kilograms of nuts last week.
The company expanded its recall yesterday to include all raw and roasted pistachios from its 2008 crop.
"The company is working closely with the FDA on this matter and is cooperating fully," Setton spokeswoman Fabia D'Arienzo said. "Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc is committed to quality products and consumer safety, and is taking aggressive action to prevent the need for any future recalls."
Federal regulators say consumers should avoid eating pistachios or foods made with the nuts until they can determine that they don't contain any nuts that Setton has recalled.
The FDA has also advised wholesalers, retailers, and operators of restaurants and food service establishments against selling or serving any pistachios or pistachio products until they can figure out whether they came from Setton.
No illnesses have been reported by consumers.
The contamination was discovered by a Kraft manufacturer in Illinois, where workers doing routine testing found the bacteria in roasted pistachios.
Officials then traced the source back to the Terra Bella plant.
Pistachios are used in everything from ice cream to cake mixes, and the FDA believes more recalls are imminent.
Salmonella, the most common cause of food-borne illness, causes diarrhea, fever and cramping. Most people recover, but the infection can be life-threatening for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
Roasting is supposed to kill the bacteria in nuts. But problems can occur if roasting is not done correctly or if roasted nuts are re-contaminated.
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