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FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Contact:
Brian Hammons
417-276-5181 or 417-276-1762
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Stockton, MO -- May 27, 2004 -- Hammons Pantry of Stockton, Missouri is conducting a voluntary recall on its distribution of raw whole almonds, produced by Paramount Farms of California and packaged as "Hammons Pantry whole almonds," due to the possibility of contamination with Salmonella enteritidis. The recalled almonds are packed in 8 oz. or 16 oz. packages under the Hammons Pantry label, or in 5 pound boxes, and were purchased between October 2, 2003 and May 25, 2004.
Salmonella is 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 maya 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).
Hammons Pantry distributes raw almonds nationwide through a mail order catalog and fundraising organizations, and in retail stores. The company also packages and sells other tree nuts, which are not subject to recall.
This recall is in follow-up to a voluntary recall announced in mid-May by Paramount Farms of California of whole and diced raw almonds based on over 20 possible cases of illnesses associated with the almonds. The cases were reported in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico, Arkansas, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Michigan. While we have not received any reports of illness from any of our customers, we are working with FDA to assure that all potentially contaminated almonds are removed from the marketplace and that consumers are notified of the recall.
The raw almonds should not be consumed but rather returned to the point of purchase for a full refund. For further information, call Hammons Pantry at 1-888-429-6887 between 8 am and 5 pm CDT.
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Complete list of Almond Recalls