The federal Food and Drug Administration has ordered a recall for Big Island-grown macadamia nuts that tested positive for salmonella.
All mac nuts and mac nut products from Mahina Mele Farm labeled with Lot No. 016 are included in the recall, which was announced by the FDA on Wednesday.
“To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with these products,” reads the FDA media release. “In the interest of public health and safety, we are recalling all products processed from this batch of macadamia nuts.”
The small, family-run Captain Cook farm, which also produces coffee, experienced trouble with its dehydration machine, explained owner Kollette Stith.
“All ag products have some form of salmonella in them,” she said. “In processing, there are different things you have to do as far as cleaning and preparing. … We needed to increase the heat in our dehydration machine. The heat was fluctuating, and it fluctuated below 140 degrees.”
Because the heat was too low, salmonella tainted all the organic mac nuts in Lot 016, which was delivered to customers along the East Coast on the mainland, as well as in Hawaii.
“We have contacted everyone who bought them,” Stith said.
Healthy people infected by salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, 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, encocarditis and arthritis.
The following products are involved in the recall. They were distributed to retail stores from May 26-29:
• Izzie Macs! Macadamia Nuts, UPC# 689076792677, Lot No. 016, 6 ounces (salted)
• Izzie Macs! Macadamia Nuts, UPC# 689076793575, Lot No. 016, 6 ounces (unsalted)
• Izzie Macs! Macadamia Nuts, UPC# 689076792776, Lot No. 016, 16 ounces (unsalted).
• Izzie Macs! Macadamia Nuts, UPC# 689076792974, Lot No. 016, 16 ounces (salted).
• Bulk Macadamia nuts (salted and unsalted; wholes and pieces), Lot No. 016, 5-pound bag.
• Baby Bruddah’s Mac Nut Buttah, UPC# 753182242019, Lot No. 016, 12 ounces.
• Baby Bruddah’s Chocolate Mac Nut Buttah, UPC# 735182242040, Lot No. 016, 12 ounces.
Customers who have purchased the above products should not consume them and should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund or replacement. Mahina Mele Farm will reimburse the wholesaler for any returned products, according to the FDA.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaii
tribune-herald.com.
