Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009

Food borne illness is a systemic problem that is beginning to overwhelm this country. President Obama highlighted the problem in a recent radio address. Hopefully, as at least a modest step in the right direction,Congress will pass what’s known as the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. This will require registration with a new federal agency, federal inspections, better record keeping and stiffer penalties. It can’t come too soon. Just look at the following examples of recalls reported by the FDA today.

Tillamook Country Smoker of Bay City, Oregon is recalling 1.5 oz. (42 g) and 1 lb. packages of Pistachios (salted in shell), because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were manufactured using pistachios recalled by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc.

Dekalb Farmers Market announced today that it is voluntarily recalling roasted salted pistachio whole kernels, sold from their retail store located in Georgia. The pistachios may be part of the recall by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. due to contamination with the Salmonella organism.

InStore Distributors Inc. dba 21st Century Snack Foods Inc. of Ronkonkoma, NY is voluntarily recalling various products containing pistachios because the pistachio nuts contained in them have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. This recall action is being taken as a precaution to the nationwide recall by Setton Pistachio.

As a result of the expansion of the voluntary recall of roasted shelled and inshell pistachios announced by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. on April 6, 2009 to include all 2008 crop pistachio products that it has shipped to date, John B. Sanfilippo and Son, Inc. announced that it is expanding its voluntary recall of packaged items of Archer Farms Roasted Salted Inshell Pistachios.

In response to the expanded recall of pistachios announced by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., on April 6th, Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market Inc. is voluntarily recalling all date codes of Fresh and Easy Chili and Lemon Flavored Pistachios due to a potential contamination with Salmonella.

International Foodsource in cooperation with FDA is voluntarily recalling certain pistachio products because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. International Foodsource initiated the voluntary recall in response to the expanded recall by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc.

Salmonella, or salmonellosis, is the most common foodborne illness in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) receive reports of approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis in the United States each year – and the CDC estimates that hundreds of thousands more cases go unreported.