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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:
Eric Borchardt
(608) 363-1200
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Beloit, WI -- May 27, 2004 -- Pacific Seasonings, a division of Kerry Inc., is conducting a voluntary recall on its whole raw almonds, packaged as Gold Shield brand, due to the possibility of contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis. The recalled almonds are packed in 2.5 oz. bags and 8 oz. bags under the Gold Shield label, with the following lot numbers and Best when used by dates:
2.5 oz.:
Lot 4049 Best when used by Feb. 05
Lot 4120 Best when used by Apr. 05
Lot 4139 Best when used by May 05
8 oz.:
Lot 3294 Best when used by Oct. 04
Lot 3321 Best when used by Nov. 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.
Pacific Seasonings’ Gold Shield brand product is distributed in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Northern California, Hawaii and Guam.
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. Pacific Seasonings is 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. Media questions related to this recall should be directed to Eric Borchardt, Public Relations Manager, Kerry Inc. in Beloit, WI at (608) 363-1200.
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Complete list of Almond Recalls