Botticelli Foods has issued a recall for its bettergoods-branded Pistachio Nut Butter, sold at Walmart locations across 19 states, due to potential contamination with Salmonella. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall on Monday.
The recalled product is packaged in 6.7oz glass jars and has a "best before" date of January 27 of next year. The specific UPC is 194346207961 and the Lot Code is LB028ACP04. The affected states include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming.
The recall was prompted after routine tests on three jars of the nut butter detected the presence of Salmonella. Botticelli Foods was informed of the test results on July 17, but the recall was not announced until August 3. The reason for the delay in testing and notification was not immediately clear.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can contaminate food through animal feces. Symptoms of infection in healthy individuals typically include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which usually resolve within a few days. However, the bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal complications, such as sepsis, particularly in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The FDA warned that contaminated products can appear normal but still cause illness.
Customers who purchased the recalled pistachio nut butter are advised not to consume it. They should either throw it out immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Individuals who believe they may have been sickened by the product are urged to contact their doctor. They can also report the infection to their local health authority.
The nut butter was manufactured by Italy-based Gustibus Alimentari Srl and imported into the U.S. by New York-based Botticelli. The exact cause of the contamination remains unclear, though previous Salmonella outbreaks linked to pistachio products have been associated with irrigation water contaminated by animal feces.