Pistachios recalled after salmonella outbreak
April 6, 2009
By Jim Feehan
Under an electron microscope, a magnified view shows salmonella bacteria invading human cells. webmd.com
A national recall of pistachio products due to a salmonella outbreak at a California company has proven hit and miss in Issaquah.
The Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health are investigating contamination of products sold by Setton Pistachio, of Terra Bella Inc., Calif.The company has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and is voluntarily recalling approximately 1 million pounds of its products, according to the FDA. Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely the recall will impact many products.
Affected products include candy, ice cream, snack and protein bars, and trail mixes.
While the California company ships its products to many outlets across the United States, not all local grocery stores were affected. Issaquah’s Fred Meyer and QFC stores were hit the hardest, having to remove pistachio products from shelves. However, Safeway and the Front Street Market were unaffected and as of April 6 still had products that are safe to eat.
But the investigation at the company is ongoing and may lead to additional pistachio product recalls. For a complete list of the recall, go to www.fda.gov/pistachios.
On April 3, the FDA issued a letter to all known pistachio processors in the U.S. reminding them of their legal responsibility to ensure that the products they are providing are safe for consumption and spelling out many of the good manufacturing practices that must be met by anyone manufacturing, packaging or holding human food in interstate commerce, according to the FDA’s Web site.
What is it?
Salmonella are bacteria that can live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, said Will Shelton, Swedish Medical Center’s director of epidemiology and employee health.
The bacteria are spread by not washing one’s hands after going to the bathroom and then preparing food. Also, raw poultry can carry salmonella bacteria, Shelton said.
“One of the most common ways salmonella is spread is at petting zoos, where children pet tortoises and snakes and they don’t wash their hands,” he said.
Symptoms include abdominal cramps, diarrhea and fever that develop six to 72 hours after infection. Most people recover in four to seven days and don’t require treatment other than drinking plenty of fluids. People with severe diarrhea may require rehydration with intravenous fluids.
Antibiotics are usually not used unless the salmonella infection has spread beyond the intestines. Serious — and potentially fatal — cases are more likely in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weak immune systems, Shelton said.
“The best defense against salmonella is to properly wash your hands after going to the bathroom,” he said.
Unclean kitchens can also be a source of salmonella.
There were 263 reported cases of salmonella in King County in 2008. That only represents those cases where a culture was ordered by a healthcare professional, sent to the laboratory and salmonella was isolated, Shelton said.
“The number of actual cases of salmonella is far higher,” he said.
The pistachio recall is enigmatic, because the nut is grown on a tree, he said.
“Three weeks ago, if you were to tell me that pistachios would be recalled because of salmonella, I would have said it was unlikely you would get salmonella,” Shelton said.
“Apples grown on trees are not a typical source for salmonella,” he said. “But apples that fall on the ground and get mashed can get salmonella.”
Food safety tips
The FDA recommends these practices for all fruits and vegetables to prevent any type of food poisoning:
4Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after handling them.
4Wash produce thoroughly under running water, not in a tub or sink.
4Use a clean cutting board and utensils. Don’t let produce come into contact with other raw foods or surfaces they have touched.
Cooking
Thorough cooking can kill salmonella. While it’s always a good idea to rinse fruits and vegetables, it may not get rid of salmonella, particularly during an outbreak — it’s best just to throw any suspect produce away. Further, when health officials warn people not to eat potentially contaminated food during an outbreak, that means you shouldn’t eat that food, cooked or not.
Source: Webmd.com
Reach Reporter Jim Feehan at 392-6434, ext. 239, or jfeehan@isspress.com. Comment on this story on www.issaquahpress.com. Reporter David Hayes contributed to this story.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
