FDA to consumers: Stop eating pistachio nuts

The Food and Drug Administration has widened its recall of pistachio nuts and is now recommending that consumers avoid eating any pistachio nuts or products until further information is available about the scope of the problem. The pistachios are reportedly contaminated with multiple strains of salmonella. It is not yet known whether any of the salmonella strains found in the pistachio products are linked to an outbreak.

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 second largest supplier in the country. The company has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and is issuing a voluntary recall involving approximately one million pounds of its products. The 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 identified the source of the contamination to be pistachios from Setton and conducted a recall.

Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely this recall will expand to include many products. The investigation at the company, which sells some 60 million pounds of pistachios per year, is ongoing. Since roasting kills salmonella, it's possible that environmental contamination at the 150,000 sq. foot Terra Bella facility could be the source of the problem.

Setton sells roasted pistachios in bulk in 2,000 lbs., 1,700 lbs., 1,800 lbs. and 1,000 lbs. bags to wholesale customers around the country.  The recall affects certain bulk roasted inshell and roasted shelled pistachios shipped on or after September 1, 2008.  As with the ongoing recall of peanut products, the FDA plans to set up a searchable database of products recalled because they contain pistachios from Setton.