Kona-based company recalls macadamia nut products

Captain Cook-based Mahina Mele Farm is recalling a handful of products after U.S. Food and Drug Administration testing found salmonella in 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.

Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the products. In the interest of public health and safety, the company is recalling all products processed from the affected batch of macadamia nuts.

The following products are involved in the recall. They were distributed to retail stores from May 26 through 29, primarily on the East Coast and in Hawaii.

Customers who 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 product.

Those with questions, should contact Jason or Kollette Stith at 328-8987.

Hawaii Tribune-Hearld staff writer Colin M. Stewart contributed to this report.