Pistachio products recalled from second Setton plant

Pistachio products processed at a second plant operated by the Setton company have been recalled. The nuts, some covered with chocolate or yogurt, were shipped to Setton's plant in Commack, New York from its facility in Terra Bella, California. The California plant is under investigation after four strains of salmonella were discovered in pistachios processed there. The recalled products from the New York plant were distributed to 18 states and Canada.

In a separate investigation of the second Setton plant, New York agricultural authorities discovered nearly two dozen dead cockroaches, rodent droppings and one live cockroach on an ingredient rolling rack inside the plant. It failed its state health inspection, according to a report in Newsday. Those problems, which were unrelated to the salmonella investigation, have been fixed, Newsday reported. The plant was one of 36 wholesalers to get nuts from Setton's California plant.

USA Today is reporting that Setton Pistachio had been receiving positive salmonella tests in its California operation for as long as five months. The salmonella was detected by one of the company's food-manufacturing customers. When the FDA asked Setton officials if any of their own tests had come back positive for salmonella, the answer was yes, said David Acheson, FDA associate commissioner. "The question is, 'Did Setton Farms have an ongoing problem, and what did they do about it?' " Acheson told the newspaper.

Perhaps because pistachios have always been considered at low risk for bacterial contamination, it may be that Setton officials "were not paying close attention," said Michael Hansen of Consumers Union. And without stronger federal regulations on food safety, there was no reason for them to, he told USA Today.

The FDA's list of recalled pistachio products continues to grow. Today Harry and David, the popular mail-order house, recalled several pistachio products including some from its famous gift towers. And the Ciao Bella Gelato Company recalled its 3.5 oz Pistachio Gelato Single Serve Cups (see image). To keep current with recalls, search the FDA's database.