Salmonella found in some Oregon hazelnuts
DAYTON, Ore. – Whole Foods, Kunze Farms, Willamette Filbert Growers, Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts, Harry & David, and Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co. are recalling hazelnuts due to Salmonella.
Kunze Farms of Dayton, Ore., is recalling 32,950 pounds of hazelnut kernels due to this recall order. The possible contaminated hazelnuts were distributed to processors and wholesalers in the following areas: Dayton; Milton-Freewater, Ore.; Hauppauge, N.Y.; Mesa, Ariz.; Cottonwood, Ariz.; Seattle, Wash.; Ogden, Utah; San Antonio, Texas; and Parker, Colo. The product was packed in 25 pound cartons, under the brand name Kunze Farms, ‘Select Shelled Hazelnuts’ Dayton, Oregon, with the code numbers 289091A or 299091A.
The recall came as a result of a routine FDA product sampling at the company that processes the hazelnuts for Kunze Farms. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product, and the FDA and Kunze Farms are continuing their investigation into the cause of the problem.
Willamette Filbert Growers of Newberg, Ore. is recalling 29,861 pounds of its Shelled Hazelnuts and Shelled Organic Hazelnuts due to potential contamination by Salmonella. After product sampling, Salmonella was found on one production lot at the facility where Willamette Filbert Grower's hazelnuts were shelled.
To ensure consumer safety, Willamette Filbert Growers has decided to recall all shelled hazelnuts and shelled organic hazelnuts processed from Oct. 12 through Nov. 25, 2009.
Shelled Hazelnuts and Shelled Organic Hazelnuts were distributed in Oregon and California through wholesale distributors and direct delivery. Unshelled hazelnuts are not subject to this recall. All products subject to recall were packed in 25 pound corrugated boxes bearing Willamette Filbert Growers or Meridian Organic Hazelnuts labeled with lot code numbers 289091A and 311091A.
Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts of Eugene, Ore., is recalling 6,712.5 pounds of raw and dry roasted hazelnut kernels. After product sampling, Salmonella was found on one production lot at Willamette Shelling, of Newberg, Ore., the facility where Evonuk Oregon Hazelnut’s hazelnuts kernels were shelled.
Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts has decided to recall all raw and dry roasted hazelnut kernels delivered or shipped by Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts from Nov. 2 through Dec. 4, 2009. Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts-brand raw hazelnut kernels and dry roasted hazelnut kernels subject to recall include:
- Raw hazelnut kernels packed in 25 pound corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.
- Dry roasted hazelnut kernels packed in 25 lb. corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.
- 8 ounce, 2.5 lb., and 5 pound packages of raw hazelnut kernels in clear plastic packages, bearing no lot code. Shipped in corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.
- 4 ounce, 8 ounce, 2.5 pound, and 5 pound packages of dry roasted, salt free, hazelnut kernels in clear plastic packages, bearing no lot code. Shipped in corrugated boxes with lot code numbers 299091A and 296091A.
These raw and dry roasted products were distributed in retail and wholesale stores, restaurants and bakeries in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Oklahoma and New Jersey.
Harry & David is voluntarily recalling its raw, shelled hazelnut kernels. The hazelnuts were sold only in the Harry & David Country Village store located in Medford, Ore., and were supplied by Evonuk Oregon Hazelnuts.
The Harry & David Country Village store removed all the raw, shelled hazelnuts supplied by Evonuk from sale on Dec. 17. This was done in response to a recall issued on Dec. 17 by Willamette Sheller, the company that processed the hazelnuts for Evonuk.
The hazelnuts affected by this recall were sold as Filbert (hazelnut) kernels in bulk bin #10077 only at the Harry & David Country Village store, Medford, Ore., prior to Dec. 18.
Whole Foods Market is recalling organic raw hazelnuts, also known as filberts, which were sold in bulk in its stores in California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The company also recalled:
- Non-organic dry roasted hazelnuts (filberts) sold in bulk through its stores in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
- Non-organic raw hazelnuts (filberts) sold in bulk through its stores in Oregon and Washington.
Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co. is recalling certain products containing shelled hazelnuts (filberts). Certain lot codes and sizes of these products have been recalled: Filberts, Natural Mixed Nuts, Fancy Mixed Nuts, Choice Mixed Nuts, Dry Roasted Mixed Nuts, Sweet Simplicity Trial Mix, Mountain Jubilee Trail Mix, Cinnamon Almond Appleanche Trail Mix and Fancy Mixed Nut Gift Packs.
The recalled products were sold online as well as in the Midwest and Western states through Mountain Man distributors and retail stores. Products sold in Oregon are not affected. For more information, consumers can call 800-225-0045 or visit the Web site http://mtnman.com.
No illnesses to date
No illnesses from any of the recalled nuts have been reported to date. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Healthy persons infected with Salmonella can experience fever, diarrhea (sometimes accompanied by blood), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella has arguably resulted in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses like arterial infections such as infected aneurysms, endocarditic and arthritis.
Consumers who have purchased any of the above hazelnuts, otherwise known as filberts, are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.