The recent case of contaminated pistachios shows the void in food testing laws. Setton Farms in Terra Bella, California, the second-largest pistachio processor in the United States, recalled 2 million pounds of pistachios that may have been contaminated with salmonella.Dr. David Acheson, FDA’s associate commissioner said no illnesses have been linked to this case but salmonella strains were found last week during routine test by Kraft Foods, one of about three dozen companies that purchase pistachios from Setton Farms. Kraft notified the FDA on March 24.
Voluntary testing by Kraft Foods Inc. prevented distribution of contaminated pistachios to people. FDA has issued warning regarding the consumption of pistachios and products containing them. Salmonella contamination in peanuts was not detected until many people got sick after consuming tainted products. Timely testing by Kraft saved many people from becoming sick.
Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., a critic of the nation’s food safety system said: “We’re relying on companies to find the contaminated foods on their own, and since there’s no national standards for this, some companies don’t bother to test at all.”
“What if these nuts had been distributed by a company that doesn’t test? We wouldn’t have found out until people got sick.”