FDA: Avoid pistachios amid salmonella scare

Another thanks to Bush for saving tax dollars by cutting back on regulation of businesses because it wasn't necessary.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29963639/

updated 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
FRESNO, Calif. - Federal food officials are warning Americans not to eat any food containing pistachios because of possible contamination by salmonella, in another food scare sure to rattle consumers already upset by the contamination of peanuts with the same bacteria.

The Food and Drug Administration said central California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., the second-largest U.S. pistachio processor, was voluntarily recalling more than 2 million pounds (900,000 kilograms) of its roasted nuts shipped since last fall.

"Our advice to consumers is that they avoid eating pistachio products, and that they hold onto those products," said Dr. David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food safety. "The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow, simply because these pistachio nuts have then been repackaged into consumer-level containers."

Two people called the FDA complaining of gastrointestinal illness that could be associated with the nuts, but the link hasn't been confirmed, Acheson said. Still, the plant decided to shut down late last week, officials said.

The recalled nuts are a small fraction of the 55 million pounds (25 million kilograms) of pistachios that the company's plant processed last year and an even smaller portion of the 278 million pounds (126 million kilograms) produced in the state in the 2008 season, according to the Fresno-based Administrative Committee for Pistachios.
...
Fabia D'Arienzo, a spokeswoman for Tulare County-based Setton Pistachio, said the company was only recalling certain bulk roasted in-shell and roasted shelled pistachios that were shipped on or after September 1.