Don’t Look Now … Another Federal Food Safety Warning: Avoid Pistachios Amid Salmonella Scare & Recall

Just when you thought it was safe to eat nuts, think again as there is a Pistachios and salmonella scare. The FDA is warning consumers to stop eating all foods that contain pistachios as health officials investigate.

Federal food safety officials warned Monday that consumers should stop eating all foods containing pistachios while they figure out the source of a possible salmonella contamination.

Still reeling from the national salmonella outbreak in peanuts, the Food and Drug Administration said central California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., the nation’s second-largest pistachio processor, was voluntarily recalling a portion of the roasted nuts it has been shipping since last fall. A Setton spokeswoman said that amounts to more than 2 million pounds of nuts.

“Our advice to consumers is that they avoid eating pistachio products, and that they hold onto those products,” said Dr. David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food safety. “The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow, simply because these pistachio nuts have then been repackaged into consumer-level containers.”

Kroger recalling shelled pistachios over salmonella worries

Being recalled are pistachios with sell dates of Dec. 13 or Dec. 14 and the UPC code 1111073615.

The company said no illnesses have been reported, but it is asking customers to return the products for a refund or replacement. A toll-free hot line for questions on the recall has been set up at 1-800-697-2448.