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Setton Expands Salmonella Pistachio Recall

By PritzkerLaw

An affiliate of the California company at the center of a nationwide Salmonella recall of pistachio products issued a supplemental recall today covering 19 different pistachio products, including chocolate covered varieties.

At this stage of the investigation, national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is telling consumers to heed government advice not to eat any brand of shelled or unshelled pistachios, or any food products containing pistachios. There have been cases of illness that may be associated with contaminated pistachios and PritzkerOlsen currently is representing Salmonella victims from around the country in other outbreaks.

Setton International Foods Inc. of Commack, N.Y., announced the voluntary recall in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but the company said it was not related to recent state health inspection findings. 

Setton International Foods Inc. is an affiliate of California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. The FDA is investigating Salmonella contamination in bulk, wholesale pistachios from the 2008 crop year roasted and distributed by Setton Pistachio.

All together, the FDA has estimated that 1 million pounds of pistachios from Setton are being recalled.

The New York affiliate of Setton said its recall was related to pistachios it had obtained from the California operation. "This voluntary recall is not in any way  related to any inspection conducted by New York State or the United States Food and Drug Administration,'' the company's recall notice said.

The Associated Press reported this week that the New York affiliate of Setton failed its state health inspection last month because authorities found cockroaches and rodent droppings in the plant. Company officials have said they have remedied the problems.

The 19 products involved in Friday's recall are listed in full on the FDA's web site. The list includes "Certified Delicious Dark Chocolate Pistachios'' under the Setton Farms brand.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on April 03, 2009 (boomark / email).