Due to salmonella concerns, Kroger just expanded its voluntary recall of Private Selection® Shelled Pistachios sold in its family of stores. The pistachios were supplied by Setton Farms and may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Salmonella is a food borne illness that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems. Even healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pain.
This pistachio problem is just another example of the crisis our food supply is experiencing. Since we seem to be unable to accurately and quickly trace food products along the supply chain, the FDA issues blanket warnings that consumers avoid all pistachios. Of course, this not only alarms consumers, it damages the pistachio industry which is already facing difficult economic challenges. We need the ability to quickly determine the source of contaminations, determine where the products were sent, and get them off store shelves quickly without painting with an overly broad brush. Obviously, easier said than done.
The Kroger products subject to the voluntary recall include the following:
• Private Selection Shelled Pistachios sold in 10-ounce containers with a “Sell by” date of JAN-14-10, FEB-10-10, FEB-11-10 and MAR-23-10 with this UPC Code: 11110 73615.
• Private Selection Shelled Pistachios sold in 10-ounce containers with a “Sell by” date of DEC-13-09 and DEC-14-09 with this UPC Code: 11110 73615.
The items were sold in The Kroger Co.’s family of stores in the following states:
Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Consumers who have questions about this pistachio recall may contact Kroger toll¬free at (800) 697-2448.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
Ok, so where can one still buy pistachios during this mass hysteria?
Tens of thousands of cases of Salmonella infection are occurring from food sources every year and you can’t reasonably recall everything. Announce the lots, pull them and leave the rest on the shelves. Cigarettes are killing thousands every single day, and no one is pulling them off the shelves! Stop this madness.