Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. issued a nationwide recall of pistachios yesterday due to possible salmonella contamination Setton recalled bulk-roasted shelled pistachios and roasted unshelled bagged pistachios in 2,000-pound, 1,800-pound, 1,700-pound and 1,000-pound amounts sold to wholesale customers.
Salmonella, or salmonellosis,is the most common foodborne illness in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) receive reports of approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis in the United States each year – and the CDC estimates that hundreds of thousands more cases go unreported.
The salmonella germ is actually a group of bacteria that pass from the feces of people or animals, including birds, into food which then becomes contaminated. Salmonella poisoning can occur in raw poultry, eggs, beef, and sometimes unwashed fruit and vegetables – and the food usually looks and smells normal. Salmonella poisoning produces symptoms that range from unpleasant discomfort to extremely dangerous health conditions. Eating contaminated food can cause abdominal cramping, diarrhea and fever – and while most people recover within a week, those with compromised heath can suffer more serious consequences. In particular, the elderly, young children, AIDS patients, and anyone else whose immune systems is underdeveloped or compromised may become extremely ill. If salmonella gets into the bloodstream, it can be life-threatening.
The onset of symptoms of salmonella poisoning is usually 12 to 72 hours after infection. Persons with diarrhea caused by salmonella typically recover completely, although it may be several months before bowel habits return to normal. A small number of people develop Reiter’s Syndrome which is a pain in the joints, irritation of the eyes and painful urination. Reiter’s Syndrome can lead to chronic arthritis which is difficult to treat.
Determining that salmonella is the cause of a particular illness depends on laboratory tests, including stool samples from an infected person. If you believe you or a loved one has become seriously ill from salmonella poisoning, you should seek immediate medical attention. If you still have the food that made you ill, seal it and store it for review by medical officials.
According to reports, consumers should avoid all pistachio products until more information is available. The FDA and the California Department of Public Health are investigating. Apparently, the FDA first learned of the problem on March 24, when Kraft Foods Inc informed the agency that Back To Nature trail mix was contaminated. It has been reported that Kraft identified the source of the contamination as Setton. The FDA has indicated the recall would likely include many products in which pistachios were used as ingredients. Last week, Kraft recalled Back To Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix containing pistachio nuts and Kroger recalled its Private Selection shelled pistachios. Reports also note that Supervalu Inc, which owns Albertsons, Jewel-Osco and other food store chains, said it was removing all pistachios and products containing them from its stores until it gets more information about specific products being recall.
I had boughten Deerfield Farms California naturally opened
pistacios on 4-7-09,
Lot#1496A-1, 06Aug2010 at Walgreen Co. would like to know if this has anything to do with salmonella? Would be safe to eat?
Chris,
Thank you so much for your comment & for visiting our blog. At the current time, Deerfield Farms Pistachios have not been included in the recall. However, Setton Pistachios, the source of the salmonella outbreak, distributed thousands upon thousands of pounds of pistachios to 36 wholesalers across the country. Until the FDA is able to account for the whereabouts of all those tainted nuts, they are urging customers not to eat pistachios or any products containing the nuts. We will be continuing to blog about the pistachio outbreak, so please stay tuned. Thanks!
Richard Arsenault
I did get sick from that brand that was mentioned in a previous post. I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, and come to find out that is a symptom of salmonella. Do not buy- I will be contacting FDA asap.
Sydney,
We’re so sorry to hear of your illness, and we wish you a full recovery.
We’re also glad that you’re seeking medical attention. You’ve brought up an important point for all our readers: unfortunately, many people try to self-treat what they think is indigestion or “stomach flu,” when in fact they may be suffering from food poisoning. By seeing a medical professional for testing and a proper diagnosis, foodborne illness may be better treated, as well as tracked by epidemiologists to help identify the food source and prevent others from getting sick.
We wish you the best, Sydney, and thanks for your comment. We’ll continue to keep the blog updated with the most recent recalls and food safety information, and we hope you’ll stay in touch.
Hi I ate some Deerfield Pistacios today and I got very sick, diarreha and very painful stomach cramps. Have not seen a doctor yet