Pistachios Still a Real Food Poisoning Risk, FDA Warns

Remember pistachios, those green little nuts used in everything from trail mix to ice cream that earlier this year were linked to a widespread outbreak of salmonella? Well, they’ve long faded from the news headlines, but they’re still a danger to cause severe, even deadly food poisoning, food-safety experts are warning.

The Food and Drug Administration just issued another pistachio-related recall of two brands — California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards — which contain repackaged nuts and are sold by Orca Distribution West Inc. of Anaheim, Cal.

Repackaged Pistachios Recalled

The nuts in the products came from Setton Pistachio, the California company which in March 2009 announced a massive recall of more than one million pounds of pistachios after some of the nuts tested positive for salmonella contamination.

Salmonella is a foodborne bacteria and a common source of food poisoning. It can cause severe, even deadly symptoms, particularly in the elderly, young children, and people with weakened immune systems. Officials blamed unsanitary conditions at a Setton processing facility for contaminating the nuts.

Problems with Orca products were uncovered as authorities continue to investigate Setton pistachios. The Orca pistachio products were recalled in April, but the FDA took the step of publicly announcing the recall today after the company did not do so on its own, FDA officials said.

Orca officials said they have received no reports of illnesses or deaths associated with their pistachios.

Earlier Recall Was Massive

The earlier recall of Setton pistachios involved at least 660 different products, including cookies, ice cream, and nutritional bars. Setton is among the nation’s largest processors of pistachios. It followed another sweeping food recall of roasted peanuts, peanut butter, and other peanut products which were associated with salmonella contamination blamed for nearly a dozen consumer deaths and hundreds of food poisonings.

As many as 76 million people in the United States come down with a form of food poisoning every year and about 5,000 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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