Pine Nuts Recalled by Wegmans

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by Wegmans Food Markets. 

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. is recalling approximately 5,000 pounds 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 Oct. 18, 2011, due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The bulk Turkish Pine Nuts have been linked to an outbreak of illness from Salmonella Enteritidis, an organism which 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 often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Illness onset is typically 12 to 72 hours after consumption. This recall only applies to Turkish Pine Nuts sold in bulk. Other pine nuts sold at Wegmans are not affected by this recall. 

The recalled Turkish pine nuts were imported from Turkey by Sunrise Commodities of Englewood Cliffs, N.J. The recalled product was not sold at the company’s Northborough, Mass., store, which opened on Sunday, Oct. 16. 

The recall was initiated as a result of a multi-state outbreak investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Wegmans is working closely with the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local public health and agriculture officials on this matter.

"We are very sorry for the worry and inconvenience this may cause our customers," says Jo Natale, director of media relations. "We are anxious to get to the bottom of this and are working closely with CDC, FDA, and state and local public health and agriculture officials." Wegmans has placed automated phone calls to customers who purchased the Turkish Pine Nuts using their Shoppers Club card alerting them about the recall.

Consumers who have purchased this product should discard any that remains in their homes and visit the service desk at Wegmans for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Wegmans consumer affairs department toll free at 1(800) WEGMANS (934-6267) Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. 

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. is a 79-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts.