The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) advises consumers that Heritage International (USA) Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Trader Joe's Raw Cashew Pieces because of potential contamination with Salmonella.
The product comes in a 16-ounce, clear, non-resealable plastic package (with a barcode number of 00505154) and with the following lot code: "BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4." The "BEST BEFORE" information can be found on the back of the package above the barcode.
No illnesses have been reported to date. The product was distributed to Rhode Island's Trader Joe's location, but has since been pulled from the shelves.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people 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.
In addition to Rhode Island, this product was distributed to Trader Joe's stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C. and Wisconsin.
Heritage International (USA) Inc. initiated the recall after routine testing by an FDA contract laboratory revealed the presence of Salmonella in one lot of Raw Cashew Pieces. Other lots tested by the FDA contract laboratory and further testing of this lot by Trader Joe's resulted in no additional findings of contamination.
Customers who have purchased the specified lot code of Raw Cashew Pieces should not to eat the product, and dispose of it or return it to any Trader Joe's for a full refund. Customers may call Trader Joe's Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 6:00AM-6:00PM PST, Monday - Friday, with any questions.