FDA, CDC and state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo illnesses linked to pistachio nuts produced by California-based manufacturer Wonderful Pistachios. CDC reports 11 people across nine states—Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Virginia and Washington—have been infected with the bacteria, with two people needing hospitalization.
Of the nine people interviewed by health officials, eight reported eating pistachios in the week before becoming sick. Five of the eight said they consumed Wonderful brand pistachios.
FDA collected product samples from a firm supplied by Wonderful Pistachios in January 2016. Testing confirmed the samples were highly related to the reported illnesses. Wonderful initiated a voluntary recall of its pistachios last week in both the US and Canada. According to CDC, lab tests isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo from samples of raw pistachios collected from Paramount Farms, where Wonderful pistachios are grown.
The recalled pistachio nuts are sold under the brand names Wonderful, Trader Joe’s and Paramount Farms. FDA is working with the firm to facilitate the recall.
This investigation is ongoing. FDA will continue to provide updates on the investigation as they become available.
