Pistachios recalled due to Salmonella contamination

On Friday, the FDA issued a voluntary recall of various raw pistachio products due to salmonella risk.

The issue was discovered after the company Valued Naturals tested its product ‘Raw Pistachio Kernels, Lot 79249’ and found the presence of salmonella.

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Have you purchased any of these pistachios lately?

‘As a precaution, additional products are being recalled as they may be contaminated since they were packed from the master lot that came to our facility,’ said the company. ‘We are working closely with the FDA to determine the cause of this situation.’

The products were distributed to stores across the nation. There are no reports of illnesses related to the pistachio products as of yet, but consumers who have purchased the affected products should definitely not eat them and are advised to return them to the store where they were purchased. 

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause symptoms such as fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and may even be fatal in young children, frail or elderly people. In rare cases, Salmonella can cause more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis if it gets into the bloodstream.

The recall has affected these items: Bulk Raw Whole Pistachio 80 percent VP, Valued Naturals Raw Pistachio Kernels, IFS Club Bag Pistachio Raw Shelled 80% Wholes, and IFS Club Bulk Pistachio Shelled 80% Whole. For more information on the recall, check this page on the FDA’s website. 

If you have any questions, you can call Customer Service at 973-361-7044, 8:15 am – 4:30 pm, EST, Monday through Friday.

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