The latest casualty in a long line of pistachios related recalls due to potential Salmonella contamination is Whole Foods Market. They recently announced the removal from their shelves a variety of bulk and prepackaged pistachios.
To many idealistic consumers, who would prefer their pristine impression of a grocer with comparatively high food quality standards never to be tarnished by the likes of (gasp!) pathogen contamination, this news of the Whole Foods pistachio recall may deliver the unwelcome shock that no retailer is exempt from such an unpleasant risk.
Of course, Whole Foods Market has made clear that no illnesses have been reported in relation to these products, and that none of the pistachio products in this recall have been directly linked to the Setton Pistachio Salmonella outbreak. Whole Foods is simply being conscientious by taking questionable products out of reach of customer’s innocent hands.
Who can blame us for wanting the chance to fearlessly shop for any foods our hearts (or stomachs, or taste buds) desire, with zero risk of being poisoned by food borne contaminants? Although this is a naïve wish, we consumers can realistically hope for the day when effective legislation and improved industry standards will meet our demands for the reasonable food safety precautions to which we are entitled.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
