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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:
Brad Halverson or Ilga Westberg
206-923-0740
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Seattle, WA -- May 27, 2004 -- Metropolitan Market is conducting a voluntary recall on its distribution of raw whole (or diced) almonds packaged as Almonds Whole Raw due to the possibility of contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis. The recalled almonds are packed in 8 oz. or 16 oz. clear, square clam shell containers packaged under the Metropolitan Market White Scale Label, with the code of PLU # 4248 and “SELL BY” dates Feb. 01.04 through May 31.04.
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 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.
Metropolitan Market distributes this product in their four retail stores in the Seattle/Tacoma area.
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. 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 store of purchase for a full refund. For further information, call: Queen Anne Metropolitan Market, 206.284.2530, Admiral Metropolitan Market, 206.937.0551, Proctor Metropolitan Market, 253.761.3663 or Sand Point Metropolitan Market, 206.938.6600. All four Metropolitan Market locations are open 24 hours a day.
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Metropolitan Market June 1, 2004 Expanded Recall
Complete list of Almond Recalls