US FDA says to avoid pistachios amid salmonella scare

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Federal food officials are warning people 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 nation's second-largest pistachio processor, was voluntarily recalling more than 2 million pounds 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 of pistachios that the company's plant processed last year and an even smaller portion of the 278 million pounds produced in the state in the 2008 season, according to the Fresno-based Administrative Committee for Pistachios.

California is the second-largest producer of pistachios in the world.

According to the company's Web site, Setton Pistachio is in the corporate family of Commack, N.Y.-based Setton International Foods Inc. The company sells nuts, dried fruit, edible seeds, chocolate and yogurt-coated candies.

The FDA learned about the problem last Tuesday, when Kraft Foods Inc. notified the agency that routine product testing had detected salmonella in roasted pistachios. Kraft and the Georgia Nut Co. recalled their Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix the next day.

The FDA contacted Setton Pistachio and California health officials shortly afterward, in what Acheson called a "proactive move."

By Friday, Cincinnati-based grocery operator Kroger Co. recalled one of its lines of bagged pistachios because of possible salmonella contamination, saying the California plant also supplied its nuts. Those nuts were sold in 31 states.

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.

Because Setton Pistachio shipped bags of nuts weighing up to 2,000 pounds to 36 wholesalers across the country, it will take weeks to figure out how many products could be affected, said Jeff Farrar, chief of the Food and Drug Branch of the California Department of Public Health.

"It will be safe to assume based on the volume that this will be an ingredient in a lot of different products, and that may possibly include things like ice cream and cake mixes," Farrar said. "The firm is already turning around trucks in transit to bring those back to the facility."

Salmonella, the most common cause of food-borne illness, causes diarrhea, fever and cramping. Most people recover, but the infection can be life-threatening for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Roasting is supposed to kill the bacteria in nuts. But problems can occur if the roasting is not done correctly or if roasted nuts are re-contaminated. That can happen if mice, rats or birds get into the facility.

The national peanut salmonella outbreak was blamed on a Georgia company under federal investigation for flouting safety procedures and knowingly shipping contaminated peanuts.

That outbreak is still ongoing. More than 690 people in 46 states have gotten sick. Nearly 3,900 products made with peanut ingredients from Peanut Corp. of America have been recalled.

California public health authorities have taken hundreds of samples at Setton's processing facility, but lab results have not yet determined whether salmonella was found at the plant, Farrar said. The food companies' own tests of the contaminated products isolated four different types of salmonella, but none were the same strain as the one found in the peanuts, Acheson said.

So Delicious - All Natural Cultured Coconut Milk

So Delicious All Natural Cultured Coconut Milk is new in the USA from Turtle Mountain, Inc. "Made with coconut milk (and) 6 active & live cultures," it is presented in a single-serve, 170g sealed plastic cup. Flavors include Passionate Mango, Blueberry, Chocolate, Plain, Pina Colada, Raspberry, Strawberry, Strawberry Banana and Vanilla. Literature for the "creamy yogurt" states, "Dairy free/Lactose free - Soy free - Gluten free - Rich in medium chain fatty acids - Excellent source of vitamin B12 (vegetarian friendly) - Formulated for maximum calcium absorption - Contains pre- and probiotics for enhanced intestinal health - Cholesterol free - No trans fats- Certified vegan."

JT Konnyaku Ceramide Fiber Water

This new functional drink supplies konjac ceramide and 10g dietary fiber per bottle. The dietary fiber in this product is derived from polydextrose (from corn) and glucomannan (from konjac). This drink has a refreshing grape flavor. This is a reduced-calorie drink.

Chupa Chups Relax - Lollipop

Tagged in package copy as containing 0% fat, the Chupa Chups Relax Lollipop is new on the market in Russia. This offering from Chupa Chups Russia is reportedly made with lime tree and lemon-balm extracts, in addition to concentrated fruit puree (equivalent to 3% of fresh fruits) from apples, cherries, raspberries, pineapples, limes, lemons, strawberries, peaches, bananas, oranges, bilberries, and dewberries. Featuring a citrus flavor, the lollipops are presented in a box which is designed to loosely resemble a cigarette pack; text on the back of each six-count box reads, "Chupa Chups recommends: candies instead of cigarettes!"

Wasabi and Seaweed Chocolate Bars

Confiserie Coppeneur et Compagnon GmbH has recently launched two innovative flavors in its line of Coppeneur Praline-Chocoladen (Filled Chocolate Bars). Wasabi & Algen (Wasabi and Seaweed), and Ylang Ylang both come in bars of 75g, as well as in mini-bars of 18g. The products are available in Germany, Austria, the UK, Japan and Canada.

Bubblicious Amino Quench

This bubble gum, by Cadbury Japan, contains the amino acid asparaginic acid (aspartic acid) and it is flavored with refreshing grapefruit and juicy orange to give it a sports drink flavor, popular with students. The list of ingredients is: sugar, glucose, glucose syrup, trehalose, cornstarch, gum base, flavoring, acidulant, lecithin, gardenia blue coloring, sodium asparaginate.

Amino acid fortification in chewing gum is something new in the confectionery industry!

Chocolate Goji Treats

New in the USA, the "raw, Certified Organic" treats from Adam Collins are identified as "a synergistically balanced fusion of raw exotic ancient superfoods and specialty ingredients from around the world!"

The Chocolate Goji (Wolfberry) Treats are said to be made from fair-trade and highest quality organic ingredients. Literature states, "Try them as a supercharge before sports and exercising, or simply use as a delightful treat for special occasions. Kids love them too!" The treats are made with raw cacao, maca root and agave nectar, among other ingredients.

Jelly Belly Extreme Sport Beans with Caffeine

The new Jelly Belly Extreme Sport Beans with Caffeine are offered in the USA in Cherry and Watermelon flavors by Jelly Belly Candy Co. Both varieties are sold in single-serve, kosher stamped, 1 oz. (28g) plastic bags.

Company literature reads, "New Extreme Sports Beans(tm) Energizing Jelly Beans(r) are packed with 50mg of caffeine per serving, about the same amount of caffeine in a half a cup of brewed coffee, along with Sport beans' clinically proven formula of carbohydrates (25mg), vitamins and electrolytes."

Flor & Flor Edible Flowers

Imported from France, new Flor & Flor Edible Flowers are available in the USA in a 24-count hand-packed, padded box from Albert Uster Imports, Inc. Literature for the line reads, "We are proud to release a luxurious new line of stabilized and crystallized sugar natural edible flowers brought to you exclusively by Flor & Flor!

Through a groundbreaking instant crystallization process that incorporates the entire flower and yields a better result than traditional thick candied blooms, these delicacies offer unlimited applications with elegance and panache." The line includes Rose, Jasmine Bloom and Violet blooms.

Glico Dororich

Glico Dairy Products (Glico Nyugyo): Glico Dororich.

This is a new chilled dessert. The product name is derived from doro [very thick] and rich. This dessert is a mix of crushed coffee jelly and cream.

It is produced using a unique method (patent pending) to creat a sensational mouthfeel. It is consumed using a straw specially designed (patent pending) for this product.

Edible Cutlery

Bakey's Edible Cutlery is new in the Indian market. These new innovative Edible Cutlery are available in four colors - Brown, Green, Orange and Red. Vegetable Pulp is added to the Cutlery Spoons to give the color and also nutrition. Tagged as "'use and eat', it is said to be nutritive and hygienic. Flavours include: beetroot, spinach and carrot!

Asahi Vegesh

Asahi Breweries: Asahi Vegesh. This new ready-to-drink low-alcohol cocktail is a joint development by the company and Kagome. This carbonated drink has a refreshing grapefruit taste as the base. The vegetable juice used is based on Kagome Yasai Seikatsu 100 [vegetable lifestyle 100], the mainstay vegetable juice product from Kagome. This new drink is made with 21 types of vegetables including carrots, spinach, asparagus, red bell peppers and 5 types of fruit including grapefruit, lemon and pineapple. The carrots used are yellow carrots which have a refreshing taste with low bitterness. The vegetable juice content is 20% and the fruit juice content is 20%. This drink has a pleasant mouthfeel, a rich taste yet a refreshing aftertaste. The alcohol content is 4%. It is the third variety of this sereis of vegetable juice cocktail product from Asahi; the first and second varieties are Asahi Tomate and Asahi Vegete.

Anti-Ageing Water

Produced by Japan-based Kunimitsu Kido Co. Ltd., Anti-Ageing Water is new in the USA from Global Beverage Innovations. The "pH 10" water is presented in a resealable 16.9 fl. oz. (500ml) bottle flagged, "The world's most functional water. Now enhanced with DMAE!" The "neutral tasting ultra premium cosmeceutical designer water" is touted as "an all-natural, DMAE-based mineralized super-alkaline bottled water." Said to contain natural products that are exceptionally helpful in hydrating the skin, literature states, "it's the ultimate luxury - drinking Anti-Ageing Water is like turning back the hands of time."

Mountain Dew Voltage

Mountain Dew Voltage is presented in a resealable 20 fl. oz. plastic bottle flagged "Dew Charged with Raspberry Citrus Flavor and Ginseng." The "blue-colored beverage" is new in the USA from PepsiCo, Inc.

Tesco Diet Cola with a Twist of Almond

Tesco Stores Ltd. has recently launched Tesco Diet Cola with a Twist of Almond. Described on the label as having a "cool refreshing taste", it sells in bottles of 2 litres.

Taiwan 2 to Dream Slim

Taiwan 2 to Dream Slim is the brand name of a new Deep Sea Water Drink that is available in Apple and Grapefruit flavors for consumers in Taiwan. The water is said to be sourced from off the Hua Lian Pacific coast rim at a depth of 662 meters.

Ukon No Chikara Drink (Tumeric Drink)

House Ukon No Chikara Drink is newly launched in Korea market. This new functional drink contains curcumin derived from turmeric as the active ingredient. Each pack contains 10g turmeric extract (30mg curcumin) plus vitamin B6, vitamin E and inositol. The characteristic bitter taste of turmeric has been removed to make this a palatable drink. It also provide you energy. This product is presented in a 100ml aluminum bottle.

Asahi Asa Shimikomu Chikara Polyphenols and Noni

Asahi Asa Shimikomu Chikara Polyphenols and Noni [powder to be supplied in the morning, polyphenols and noni]. This new powdered nutritional supplement drink contains polyphenols derived from grapes and noni juice as active anti-aging ingredients; noni juice is originally from the South Pacific islands. Consumers only need to reconstitute this product with water or milk. This drink has a grape flavor which makes noni juice palatable. One sachet contains 5mg grape polyphenol.

Asahi Ginger Draft

Asahi Breweries: Asahi Ginger Draft. This is a new happoshu [sparkling malt beverage similar to beer but brewed with a malt content of less than 25%] containing ginger extract. This refreshing drink has the stimulation and spiciness of ginger. The alcohol content is 5.5%. The main target is consumers in their 20s.

Green Light Energy Drink

Fortified with vitamins, caffeine and taurine and featuring a goji berry and apple flavor, a Green Light variety of ED Energy Drink is new on the market in Finland. This beverage from Oy Hartwall Ab is green in color and is presented in a 0.5 liter clear plastic bottle.

Purple Sweet Potato Milk

Purple Sweet Potato Milk is newly launched in Korea market under the brand name 'Cow & Tree'. Product literature states, "It is 100% made of domestic sweet potatoes". It is presented in a paperboard sleeve package containing four 230ml plastic bottles

Absolute Los Angeles Flavored Vodka

Produced in Sweden by V&S Vin & Sprit AB, new Absolute Los Angeles Flavored Vodka in Acai, Acerola, Pomegranate & Blueberry is offered in the USA for a limited time. It is imported and distributed in a 750ml glass bottle by Absolut Spirits Co. Absolut is claimed to be donating $250,000 from sales of Absolut Los Angeles to Green Way LA, an organization dedicated to restoring nature's services while providing for the health and welfare of the community. Absolut Los Angeles is "40 percent alcohol by volume (80 proof)."

Spoon Jirushi Slow Calorie Sugar

Spoon Jirushi Slow Calorie Sugar: this new sweetener is a blend of sugar and palatinose. Although the calorie content of this product is same as normal sugar, this product is slowly digested and absorbed to the body compared with normal sugar. This product can be used like normal sugar.

Kirin Yakult NextStage Fruit Collagen

Kirin Yakult NextStage Fruit Collagen is a new functional, powdered drink fortified with collagen. The consumers add 120ml water to reconstitute the drink. Each glass of this product supplies 5,000mg collagen, plus 100mg vitamin C and 20mg red grape polyphenol. This palatable drink contains a blend of red grapes, acerola and peach to produce a refreshing, sweet and tangy mixed fruit flavor. The fruit juice content is 1.5%. It is recommended to consume in the morning. The target is women in their 20s to 40s.

Pepsi White

This is a new variety added to the cola drink series of Pepsi. Suntory has been working with Pepsi Cola Co. in Japan since 1980. This carbonated drink has a refreshing yogurt flavor. There is no dairy products used. It has a light aroma and refreshing aftertaste. The package design has an image of the Christmas season. 42 kcal per 100ml.

Black Bean Chips

New Beanitos 100% Black Bean Chips will soon be available in the USA in an Original Flavor sold in a 6 oz. (170g) pillow bag from Right Brothers Foods, Inc. Claimed to be the world's first snack chip made from 100 percent beans, they contain "no potato, no corn, no rice. In fact, no grains at all!" Company literature for the snack chips reads, "Beanitos(tm) are a satisfying snack: very high in natural fiber for satiety. Five grams of fiber per ounce!

Beanitos are low glycemic - They are cooked in non-GMO oil in small batches, and dust lightly with a delightful blend of proprietary, all natural seasonings. Beanitos are all natural: no artificial anything! They taste great, and provide nutritional benefits not available in any other snack chip."

Meiji Dairies: Meiji Bulgaria Nomu Yogurt Prune Fe [drinking yogurt, prune iron]. This new functional drinking yogurt is a low-fat type with a refreshing fruity flavor. It is fortified with iron. It contains the probiotic LB81 live lactic acid bacteria plus prune juice (1%).