At Aldi there is another recall.
A total of five products from two discounter brands are affected by the warning.
Dortmund – Aldi doesn't have it easy at the moment.
After a cheese recall and detection of foreign bodies in minced meat, the next product, which was only sold in a few branches of the discounter, is now affected.
The explosive thing: Aldi's stone fruits are not affected by a recall for the first time.
Next recall hits Aldi – consumption of pistachios can lead to kidney damage
Specifically, the product warning is about the detection of ochratoxin A in pistachio nuts.
Most recently, Aldi and Kaufland had to recall pistachios in November 2022.
Also because the mold toxin could be detected.
As was the case last time, the pistachio nuts were sold at both Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord.
Both discounters therefore have to act and withdraw the snack from the sale.
Aldi informed about the current recall on Thursday (February 23) and announced the following details:
Aldi north:
Trader Joe's, Roasted Pistachio Nuts (Best before date: 09/15/2023), 100 gram pack
Trader Joe's, Roasted & Salted Pistachio Nuts (Best before date: 09/16/2023), 100 gram pack
Aldi south:
Farmer naturals pistachio nut berry mix (best before date: 08/16/2023 and 09/19/2023), 100 gram pack
Farmer naturals pistachio nuts roasted & unsalted (best before date: 08/14/2023 and 09/17/2023), 100 gram pack
Farmer pistachio nuts roasted & salted (best before date: 08/15/2023 and 09/17/2023), 100 gram pack
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These five pistachio products at Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord are affected by a recall.
© Markus Mainka/Imago, Aldi/PL Food GmbH;
Collage: RUHR24.jpg
Aldi sold the pistachios in these cities
According to PL FoodCom GmbH, however, the pistachios were not available in all Aldi branches across Germany.
The pistachio kernels of the "Trader Joe's" brand were only sold at Aldi Nord in the branches of the following companies: Bargteheide, Jarmen, Lehrte (Sievershausen), Rinteln, Salzgitter, Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, Seevetal and Weyhe.
At Aldi Süd, on the other hand, it affects branches in: Adelsdorf, Dormagen, Ebersberg, Kirchheim ad Weinstraße, Langenfeld, Mörfelden-Walldorf and Rheinberg, as RUHR24 reports.
Recall of Aldi pistachios - supplier reacts immediately to the detection of mold toxin
The supplier who supplies Aldi with the pistachios is PL FoodCom GmbH.
He states that, together with Aldi Süd and Nord, they reacted immediately to the detection of the mold toxin and took the pistachios out of sale as a precaution.
In addition, PL FoodCom GmbH explains possible health risks.
“In the batches of the above products, pistachio nuts with an increased ochratoxin A content (OTA, mold toxin) were used.
OTA has a kidney-damaging and carcinogenic effect with greatly increased long-term intake," the statement said.
Recall due to mold toxin - long-term consumption can damage the kidneys and liver
The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety goes into even more detail when assessing possible consequences for customers.
According to the agency, ochratoxin A "damages the kidneys and liver and is classified as a possible human carcinogen because of its carcinogenic effect in laboratory animals."
In addition, “it is a neurotoxin, has a fruit-damaging effect and attacks the immune system.
The main target organ is the kidney.” The State Office points out that assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have shown that health risks have not yet been clarified in detail.
According to the current status, the consumption of large quantities or over a long period of time is particularly questionable.
As the state office states, "minor safety concerns" can therefore be assumed, but "health concerns" cannot be ruled out.
Depending on age, eating habits and body weight, the corresponding risk must be assessed individually.
According to EU Regulation No. 2022/1370, a maximum content of 5 µg per kilogram currently applies to pistachios “that have been placed on the market for the end consumer or are intended for use as a food ingredient”.
If this value is exceeded, a recall occurs.
Recall at Aldi Süd and Nord – affected discounter customers need to know that now
It is hardly surprising that pistachios are again affected by a recall due to ochratoxin-A.
Ochratoxin-A is one of the most common molds found in nature.
It can already form during the growth of the plant and is one of the typical storage fungi.
The toxic mold forms naturally.
Humidity during harvest, storage or further processing can promote the formation of ochratoxin-A.
According to the EFSA, cereals such as maize, buckwheat, wheat or oats, citrus fruits, grapes and figs are particularly at risk.
But ochratoxins are also often formed in coffee, cocoa, chocolate, nuts and legumes.
Even if the frequent or long-term consumption of food contaminated with ochratoxin A poses a health risk, Aldi customers should take the recall seriously.
The discounter and the supplier point out to consumers that they should return the affected products.
In the corresponding branches, you get the purchase price back even without presenting the receipt.
PL FoodCom GmbH explains that other pistachios of the brands mentioned and other batches are not affected by the recall.
They can be consumed without hesitation.
List of rubrics: © Martin Wagner/imago/Symbolbild