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Pistachio Product Recall in the USA

9 April 2009

NZFSA is advising importers of a voluntary recall of pistachio nut products in the United States. The pistachios nuts are being recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. For more information on the USA Pistachio Product Recalls: Salmonella

Current information shows that a limited volume of pistachio nuts have been imported into New Zealand. NZFSA has contacted the importer directly.

In response to the pistachio nut recall in the United States, NZFSA would like to remind importers of their responsibility under the Food Act 1981 for ensuring that all food they import is safe and suitable for human consumption.

Importers and retailers - what you can do

If you import pistachio nuts or food containing pistachio nuts, check the companies involved in the US recall (at the link above) to see if the products you import may be affected. You should do three (3) things to show that you are managing risks to food safety and suitability:

1. Seek assurances from your supplier
An assurance is a written statement that the food is safe for human consumption and does not contain pathogens, for example Salmonella, or other hazards such as physical contaminants.

• An assurance may be an email, letter or fax. It must be signed by an authorised person in the supplying company. An assurance may be a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) that includes results of laboratory tests.

• Check that the assurance or test results are specific to the food that you have purchased and imported by matching up product codes and batch numbers. Make sure that test results are from a reputable source, such as a laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 or similar, and signed by an authorised person, such as a Laboratory Supervisor or Laboratory Manager.

2. Keep traceability records
You should be able to identify your food and trace it forward to customers you have sold the food to and back to suppliers who you purchased it from. Traceability records are important for tracking the sale and distribution of food if it needs to be recalled from the market.

3. Have a recall procedure
A recall procedure will help you manage a food recall in the event you need to remove food from the market. Information to help you develop a recall policy is available at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/processed-food-retail-sale/recalls/index.htm

NZFSA remains in contact with the food regulatory authority in the USA (US Food and Drug Administration) about food products affected by the recall in the USA.

NZFSA may take further action to protect human health based on new information or risk assessment findings. NZFSA will notify any further actions directly to importers of pistachio products.