Nearly 30,000 pounds of hazelnuts processed at a Newberg plant have been recalled after some of them tested positive for salmonella earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.

The nuts were processed by Willamette Filbert Growers in Newberg, which has been in business since 1976. General Manager Ben Mitchell said it's the first time the plant has ever been involved in such an incident.

No illnesses have been reported, but the company is voluntarily recalling 29,861 pounds of shelled hazelnuts and organic hazelnuts processed between Oct. 21 and Nov. 25. Some were sold in Oregon, but most were part of two big shipments to California.

A few hundred pounds of the hazelnuts have already been returned for a refund, said Operations Manager Tim Newkirk. He said it was too early to say how much it will cost the company, because it is still very unclear how much product will come back.

Salmonella are bacteria that live in human and animal feces. In sufficient amounts, they cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps in humans approximately 12 to 72 hours after being ingested, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The illness can last up to a week. It doesn't usually require treatment, but severe bouts can lead to hospitalization and even death.

The hazelnuts processed at the plant came from 26 orchards, some of which border farms where livestock is raised, Mitchell said.

Should the recalled hazelnuts make anyone sick, they could sue the company, Mitchell said. However, he said DNA signatures in the bacteria would have to be traced back to the plant, ruling out alternative sources.

The presence of salmonella was discovered during a routine inspection by the federal Food and Drug Administration, Mitchell said. Traces were found on a cord, ladder, rake and piece of equipment.

As a result, the plant began testing hazelnuts and one sample tested positive. A recall was initiated, with notice going out to affected customers Monday, Mitchell said.

The FDA is asking anyone who has purchased Willamette Filbert Growers Shelled Hazelnuts or Meridian Organic Hazelnuts to return them for a full refund.

For more information, contact Mitchell at 503-538-9256.