Kroger recalls pistachios over salmonella fears

Kroger Co. said today it is recalling packaged pistachio nuts sold in Oregon and 30 other states over fears they are contaminated with salmonella. This is the second recall associated with pistachio nuts this week, marking the first time they have been pulled over salmonella fears, according to Stephanie Kwisnek, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration.

Kroger said the recall covers its own Private Selection brand. The shelled pistachios were sold in 10-oz. packages with sell-by dates of Dec. 13 and Dec. 14, 2009. They were sold in the Northwest and elsewhere in 17 Kroger stores, including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, Smith’s, Dillons, QFC, City Market, Foods Co., Jay C, Scott’s, Owen’s, Baker’s, Gerbes, Hilander and Pay Less.

Food 4 Less stores, which is also owned by Kroger, did not sell the recalled nuts. On Wednesday, Georgia Nut Co. in Skokie, Ill., recalled pistachio nuts, saying that it had detected salmonella during routine testing.Kroger did not get its nuts from Georgia Nut, which sold quantities in bulk, but it did use one of the same suppliers, said Melinda Merrill, spokeswoman for Fred Meyer. It was not clear who the supplier was. She said the packaged nuts have been removed from store shelves and that pistachio nuts sold in bulk are safe. No known illnesses have been associated with the recall.

Source : OregonLive