Whole Foods Market of Austin, TX, is recalling packaged raw macadamia nuts due to possible Salmonella contamination. The product was labeled as “Whole Foods Market Raw Macadamia Nuts” and was packaged in 11-oz. plastic tubs. The recalled product has best-by dates of March 19, 2016, through June 21, 2016, and a UPC code of 0-76958-62059-1. Recalled items were sold in Whole Foods Market stores in AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, KS, LA, NM, NV, OK, TX, and UT. No illnesses have been reported to date. Based upon routine testing conducted by a FDA-contracted laboratory, it was determined that the raw macadamia nuts tested positive for Salmonella. Customers who have purchased this product should discard it and may bring in the receipt for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Whole Foods Market Customer Service, (512) 477-5566, ext. 20060, from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT. Whole Foods Market announced a similar recall in April of this year, plus the company had another recall in February of raw macadamia nuts that were distributed in six Southern states. Both of those recalls were also for potential Salmonella contamination. 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 (e.g., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
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