Pistachios Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

 A California company, Western Mixers Produce and Nut Company, is recalling pistachios due to the potential for the presence of Salmonella.    No illnesses have been reported.


FDA News Release
Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. Recalls Pistachios Because of Possible Health Risk

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm360343.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 10, 2013 - Western Mixers Produce & Nut Company of Los Angeles, California is recalling ARO and/or Treasured Harvest Pistachios, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Pistachios were distributed in: California, Nevada, Ohio and Utah; through Retail Stores, Mail Order and various Distributors during the dates of: October 17, 2012 – April 29, 2013.
The Pistachios can be identified as follows:

Package Size	Package Label	Product Detail	Lot # On Pkg.
6 oz. Clear Plastic Cup	Treasured Harvest	Roasted & Salted Pistachios	123050, 123140, 123320, 123450, 123360, 130150, 130240, 130350
12 oz. Clear Bag	Treasured Harvest	Roasted & Salted Pistachios	#130290
28 oz. Clear Plastic Tray	Treasured Harvest	Roasted & Salted Pistachios	123100, 122960, 123040

The recall is a voluntary recall of the Pistachio products processed by ARO Pistachio during the 2012 harvest year. The recall was initiated because the Recalled Product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Western Mixers is taking an extremely proactive approach to protecting the public by recalling the products produced at their facility during the timeframes subject of this recall to ensure public health and safety. While neither Western Mixers nor the FDA have found Salmonella in any of their finished products distributed in commerce, they are undertaking this action in full cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA, ARO and Western Mixers continue with their investigations.

Consumers who have purchased Treasured Harvest Pistachios with reference to the above Lot numbers, are urged to destroy the product and/or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. at: 1-877-230-8449, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 am (PST) and 2:00 pm (PST).

 

Another firm recalls ARO nuts because of possible salmonella -

See more at: http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/fresh-produce-handling-distributing/Another-firm-recalls-ARO-nuts-because-of-possible-salmonella-215538661.html#sthash.ecOfyWke.dpuf

The Packer
07/15/2013 11:47:00 AM
Coral Beach

Another company is recalling packaged pistachios that were supplied by the ARO Pistachios Inc. processing plant in Terra Bella, Calif., because of possible salmonella contamination. Torn & Glasser is recalling pistachios packed under four different labels:

Torn & Glasser, Hilo, Sun Harvest and Sprouts, according to a notice on the Food and Drug Administration website. They are packaged in 8-ounce, 12-ounce and 1-pound bags. Specific lot numbers on available on the FDA website.

Greg Glasser, third-generation owner of the Los Angeles company, was not immediately available July 15 to comment.

The pistachios were distributed Feb. 21 through April 29 in California, Hawaii and Arizona. The company did not provide information on the volume of pistachios involved in the recall.

The Torn & Glasser recall, dated July 12, came two days after Western Mixers produce & Nut Co. recalled an undisclosed volume of its Treasured Harvest pistachios, also packed by ARO.

The Western Mixers Produce recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration website states neither the agency nor Western Mixers Produce & Nut Co. have found salmonella in any of the company’s finished products distributed in commerce from Oct. 17, 2012 through April 29 this year.

Western Mixers Produce sales representative David Bolstad Jr. said July 12 that he did not have information on who detected possible salmonella contamination or where it was found.

Bolstad suggested contacting ARO Pistachio Inc., Terra Bella, Calif., because the recalled nuts were processed by ARO in the 2012 harvest year. A source at ARO was not available July 12 or early July 15 to comment on the situation.

Western Mixers Produce has ceased production and distribution of the product as FDA, ARO and Western Mixers continue their investigations, according to the recall notice.

Distribution of the pistachios includes shipments to California, Nevada, Ohio and Utah, according to the recall notice. The nuts also went to retail stores in undisclosed states and to customers via mail orders.

The recalled pistachios distributed under the Treasured Harvest brand from Western Mixers Produce are packaged in 6-ounce clear plastic cups, 12-ounce clear bags and 28-ounce clear plastic trays. Lot numbers are available in the recall notice. -

Another recall of pistachios from ARO and distributed by Hoop Nuts, doing business as Christophers Nut Co., Van Nuys, Calif., is also listed on the FDA’s website. Those pistachios were only distributed in California.

The FDA’s enforcement report states possible salmonella contamination as the reason for the recall, which began Dec. 24, 2012. - See more at: http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/fresh-produce-handling-distributing/Another-firm-recalls-ARO-nuts-because-of-possible-salmonella-215538661.html?page=2#sthash.h7a3Jm3i.dpuf