Pistachio Recall

After a chain of product recalls resulting from potential salmonella contamination, the United States Food and Drug Administration advised consumers on March 31, 2009, to stop eating pistachios completely until further information is available. CBS News: Salmonella Worries Prompt Pistachio Recall (March 30, 2009) Consumer Reports: FDA to consumers: Stop eating pistachio nuts (March 31, 2009)

On April 9, 2009, the recall was expanded to include more than 2 million pounds of the nuts in fear of a possible contamination. Setton Pistachio is now recalling raw and roasted, in-shell and shelled pistachios that were produced from 2008 harvests.FOXNews.com: Setton Pistachio Expands Recall to 2 Million Pounds (April 9, 2009)

The FDA was notified of the problem on March 24, 2009, after Kraft Foods discovered salmonella in their Back To Nature Trail Mix during a routine quality check. Kraft traced the contamination to pistachios they had received from Setton Farms. On March 25, 2009, the Georgia Nut Company discovered a potential for salmonella contamination in pistachios they had purchased from Setton Farm. They immediately recalled the products they make and distribute to the greater Chicago area and two cities in Wisconsin.WebMD: FDA: Stop Eating Pistachios, Salmonella Feared (March 30, 2009)

On Friday, March 27, 2009, the grocery store chain Kroger recalled a series of products they produce. The source of all the pistachios is believed to be Setton Farms in California, who have recalled pistachios sold since September 1, 2008, amounting to one million pounds of pistachios. The FDA is currently building a database of recalled products.WebMD: FDA: Stop Eating Pistachios, Salmonella Feared (March 30, 2009) Consumer Reports: FDA to consumers: Stop eating pistachio nuts (March 31, 2009)

Setton Farms is the second largest supplier of pistachios in the United States, and they send out some 60 million pounds of nuts every year. Roasting pistachios kills salmonella; and since roasted pistachios have been identified as contaminated, authorities believe that Setton Farms, where the pistachios were roasted, is the likely source of the problem. Multiple strains of salmonella have been identified. Setton Farm's recall includes all nuts sold after September 1, 2008.Consumer Reports: FDA to consumers: Stop eating pistachio nuts (March 31, 2009)

The advisory was expanded on April 7, 2009, after salmonella was found in "critical areas" of the Setton Pistachio plant in California.WashingtonPost.com: Pistachio Firm Expands Recall Over Salmonella