FRESNO, Calif. " Food safety inspectors say a California plant at the center of a salmonella scare knew some of its pistachios were tainted but continued shipping nuts for another six months.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a sweeping national warning in March for consumers to avoid eating pistachios after concerns surfaced about nuts from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc.
In an inspection report released this week, FDA officials said Setton first got results in October showing some of its roasted nuts tested positive for salmonella. But, officials say, it didn't make proper adjustments to its processing procedures and kept shipping out nuts.
Officials haven't said whether Setton will face sanctions.
Mia Cohen, the chief operating officer of Setton, said in a statement that the company "never knowingly shipped pistachios potentially contaminated with salmonella."
Cohen said numerous tests conducted by the American Food Council from October to February found no evidence of salmonella in the company's facility.
Cohen said the company has taken steps to address concerns from the FDA and ensure the safety of its food.
No illnesses have been confirmed as a result of contaminated pistachios.
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