Salmonella outbreak tied to pistachio cream imported from Turkey
Tubs of pistachio cream are being recalled after nearly half a dozen people reported becoming ill with salmonella infections, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Emek-brand Pistachio Cream — a product sold online for wholesale distributors, restaurants, and food service locations across the country — has been linked to a salmonella outbreak in at least two states, the FDA said.
The product, a nut butter spread used in desserts, including ice cream, is manufactured by Emek Dogal Saglik Urunleri Iklim Gida Insaat San Tic Ltd Sti in Turkey and imported into the United States.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating the multistate outbreak.
As of May 19, four people, three of them in one north central state, reported becoming ill after eating the affected product, the FDA wrote in its updated June 13 post. The FDA said it is also working to determine whether "other lots or products from this firm may be impacted."
Here's what to know about the cream recall:
Tomato recall: Vegetable sold in 3 states now labeled deadly by FDA
So far, people in two states have reported being sickened from the product, according to the FDA and the CDA.
Minnesota (three people)
New Jersey (one person)
The FDA is recalling some Emek-brand Pistachio Cream packaged in a 5-kilogram white tub.
The recalled cream has a use-by date of Oct. 9, 2026, and the production code (PNO:) of 241019.
According to its online post, the FDA was notified by the Minnesota Department of Health about "a cluster of Salmonella illnesses and two Salmonella positive samples of Emek-brand Pistachio Cream product that matched clinical cases by whole genome sequencing (WGS) in this outbreak."
As of June 13, four cases of salmonella infection had been reported from two states. Of those cases, all four reported eating pistachio cream, the FDA said, and three of the four cases reported eating pistachio cream at the same restaurant.
One of the individuals who consumed the affected cream had to be hospitalized, the FDA said.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and fatal infections in children, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.
Most people infected with salmonella start developing symptoms 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. Diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps are the main symptoms.
Most people recover without treatment, but in rare circumstances, the infection can require hospitalization, according to the CDC. Pregnant women are also at higher risk of developing an infection from it and should seek medical attention if symptoms arise.
Consumers experiencing an illness because of the affected product should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and for medical care.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pistachio cream recalled after being linked to salmonella outbreak
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