The FDA reported this week that Satur Farms of Patchogue, New York, is recalling 138 pounds of cilantro “because it has the potential to be contaminated by salmonella.” Before everyone starts panicking about tacos and DIY salsas — because, come on, it’s the season for that! — note that no grocery stores were sent the stuff, just six restaurants. And each got a phone call alerting them to the recall, co-owner Paulette Satur told Grub Street. Satur also noted the ship date, April 11, and she is correct that it is the rare bunch of cilantro that can stay fresh for eleven days. “There were no reported illnesses,” Satur said, calling the incident “an aberration” because the salmonella was “discovered in a bag … not our facility.” Indeed, the FDA confirms on its site that it was “detected in a bag in a routine test” but “further investigation has shown that two subsequent lots of Satur Farms cilantro have tested negative for salmonella.” Seems to us that there’s no reason yet to shun the Satur stand at your local Greenmarket, locavores.
