The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat Turkish pine nuts purchased from unlabeled plastic bulk containers at Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. or any food items they may have prepared using the bulk Turkish pine nuts, such as pesto, salads, or baked goods.
Wegmans is voluntarily recalling approximately 5,000 lbs. of Turkish pine nuts sold in the bulk foods department of most Wegmans stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland between July 1 and October 18, 2011.
The pine nuts may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. This type of infection is most dangerous to young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at least 43 illnesses have been reported in California, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. No deaths have been reported.
Consumers should check their homes, including refrigerators and freezers, for Turkish pine nuts purchased from bulk bins at Wegmans stores between July 1, 2011 and October 18, 2011. Consumers should not eat these pine nuts and should throw away or return the product to Wegmans for a refund. Consumers who are experiencing symptoms that could be salmonellosis should consult their health care provider.
