Toxic pesticides found in nopales imported to Southern California from Mexico

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Californians are being warned not to eat nopales imported from Mexico.

State inspectors found unapproved pesticides on the cactus pads that can cause poisoning, neurotoxicity and permanent nerve damage.

The contaminated samples were found last month at a Stater Brothers distribution center in San Bernardino that is the distribution point to 171 stores throughout Southern California.

The nopales were packaged under several names, including Aramburo, Los Tres Huastecos and Mexpogroup Fresh Produce.

Customers are advised to throw them out or take them back to the store. There have been no reported illnesses.

A spokesperson for Stater Brothers said, "We identified those specific cases of product but out of an abundance of caution, we decided to destroy all product in all stores as well as all product in our warehouse."

The announcement that the contaminated nopales could cause poisoning worried the staff at El Rincon Chilango. Nopales is one of their top selling items and used as a side in several dishes.

"A lot, a lot. We have to cook nopales like every two days, like batches of them," said Erika Sanchez, who works at the restaurant.

They were also relieved to find their manufacturer had not been impacted.

They say their small business would have taken a huge hit if they lost major portions of the beloved cactus.