The Pistachio Industry Follows the Peanut Industry
When the peanut butter recall hit, the American Peanut Butter Council issued a list of the items that were not affected by the recall, which was isolated to the products of now-defunct Peanut Corporation of America.
The similar, though less-publicized, pistachio recall has also been isolated to pistachios from a single company, Setton Farms. And the Western Pistachio Association has developed a website, pistachiorecall.org, dedicated to listing products unaffected by the recall. According to the FAQ on the site, the products listed on the unaffected products list are those that producers and distributors indicated on a signed affidavit did not include pistachios from Setton Farms.
Setton Farms International Inc. and Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. did finally put the news of the recall on their website, along with messages to their wholesale customers. The differences between the pistachio and peanut outbreaks come down to two things, which bode well for Setton Farms' future. First, there have not only been no reported deaths from pistachios, there have been no cases of salmonellosis. Second, an inspection of Setton Farms' other plant, in Commack, New York, by New York State authorities, indicated no presence of salmonella.
Finally, the FDA has a pistachio widget, too.
California Lawmakers Announce Proposed Food-Safety Reforms in Wake of Pistachio Recalls
As pistachio recalls continue to be announced in the wake of salmonella-tainted pistachios from Setton Farms, two California lawmakers this week announced legislation that is expected to strengthen food-safety standards in that state.
The bill to be introduced in the California State Assembly by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assemblyman Mike Feuer is expected to require detailed safety plans from food processors, periodic testing of food at California food processing facilities, and requirements for food processors to report to state authorities any positive tests for a dangerous contaminant within 24 hours.
A video of Assemblyman Mike Feuer’s announcement is available below. Meanwhile, the FDA continues to update its list of recalled products.




