GARANCE BURKE
FRESNO
Food safety officials said Monday they were investigating a central California plant that processed pistachios tied to nationwide recalls of trail mix and bagged nuts because of possible salmonella contamination.
The California Department of Public Health said Monday it was tracking nuts processed at Setton Farms, a firm based in rural Tulare County whose Web site describes it as the second-largest pistachio processor in the United States.
State authorities said Setton sent its roasted pistachios to the Georgia Nut Co., which recalled its Kraft Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix on Wednesday. Setton Farms has initiated a separate recall of three lots of roasted pistachios tied to the positive results in the trail mix, California officials said.
Grocery operator Kroger Co. said the California firm also supplied the line of pistachios it recalled because of possible salmonella contamination. Those nuts were sold in 31 states. No illnesses have been reported.
Setton Farms will recall a total of about 1 million pounds of pistachio products, said Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration.
Setton Farms did not immediately respond to calls for comment.
