Trader Joe's Recalls Raw Cashew Pieces

Bad news for cashew eaters and Trader Joe's shoppers alike: The popular grocery and supermarket chain is recalling its Trader Joe's Raw Cashew Pieces because salmonella contamination might have affected just one batch. The cashew product (barcode number 00505154) is not confirmed to contain salmonella traces, but Trader Joe's product supplier has decided it is better safe than sick.

The tainted batch in question is listed as "BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4," according to Trader Joe's website, and was distributed to various stores around the country, including retailers in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

In a precautionary measure, all Trader Joe's Raw Cashew Pieces products were removed from shelves in the aforementioned states around the nation, which the retailer confirmed in a statement:

Out of an abundance of caution, all lots of Trader Joe’s Raw Cashew Pieces have been removed from store shelves and their sale has been suspended while we investigate this matter. If you purchased any Trader Joe’s Raw Cashew Pieces with the specified lot code, "BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4," please do not eat it.

Salmonella is a bacteria that between 12 and 72 hours after exposure can cause abdominal pains, diarrhea, and fever, and can last between four days and a week. Although many survive salmonella contamination, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 19,000 individuals are hospitalized and 380 people die annually from the bacteria.

This is not the first recall for the popular retailer. The Trader Joe's website lists previous recalls from last year, including products like cinnamon almonds, soy, and sweet apple chicken sausage — all of which have since been resolved.

To date, there are no salmonella-related illnesses on record from the cashew product, though Trader Joe's retailers are advising consumers who spot a "BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4" lot of cashew pieces to discard the product, or to return it to a Trader Joe's store for a full refund. For now, let's hope the contaminations remain at zero and that Trader Joe's resolves this issue soon.