Four people in Minnesota and New Jersey are part of a Salmonella outbreak linked to Emek brand pistachio cream. One person has been hospitalized.
Do You Need a Salmonella Lawyer?
What Happened?
Between March 10, 2025, and May 19, 2025, three people in Minnesota and one person in New Jersey developed Salmonella Oranienburg infections. Whole genome sequencing tests showed that the genetic fingerprints of the Salmonella cultured from the patients matched, indicating they had all eaten the same contaminated food.
During interviews with health officials, all four patients, who range in age from 16 to 54, said they had eaten pistachio cream before they became sick. The three Minnesota patients all ate the contaminated pistachio cream at the same restaurant. When the Minnesota Department of Agriculture tested a sample of the pistachio cream it collected from the restaurant, it was positive for Salmonella Oranienburg. Its genetic fingerprint matched those collected from the patients, confirming the pistachio cream was the outbreak source.
Symptoms of a Salmonella Infection
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection usually develop six to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. They include:
- Fever
- Diarrhea that is sometimes bloody
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
Sometimes the infection enters the bloodstream, producing a more severe illness that requires hospitalization.
Emek Pistachio Cream is the Outbreak Source
Emek-brand Pistachio Cream was made by Emek Dogal Saglik Urunleri Iklim Gida Insaat San Tic Ltd Sti in Turkey and imported into the United States. It is a shelf-stable product that was sold to wholesale distributors, restaurants, and food service locations.
- Packaged in white, plastic, 5-kilogram tubs
- Use-by date of October 19, 2026 (TETT: 19/10/26 (DD/MM/YY))
- Production code PNO: 241019
Restaurants and stores that have received this product should not sell or serve it.
Nut Butters Pose a Food Poisoning Risk
Tahini, seed butters, and nut butters are frequently linked to food poisoning illnesses. Because these butters usually aren’t pasteurized after the ingredients are mixed, if Salmonella or other bacteria get into the mixture after the nuts or seeds have been roasted, the product will be contaminated.
Restaurants are a Common Setting for Food Poisoning Outbreaks
Restaurants are the most common setting for food poisoning outbreaks. Pritzker Hageman is a national food safety law firm that represents people who have been sickened by contaminated food. Our food safety attorneys have outlined 10 steps to filing a lawsuit against a restaurant.
Experienced Salmonella Lawyers
If you developed a Salmonella infection after eating Emek pistachio cream and would like a free consultation with an experienced Salmonella lawyer, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team. Our attorneys have represented clients in every major Salmonella outbreak in the U.S. Call us at 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or complete the form below. There is no obligation, and we don’t get paid unless we win.