Federal officials revealed on Tuesday that organic walnuts from a California farmer that were supplied to co-ops and health food stores across 19 states have been connected to severe cases of E. coli infection.
Twelve people have fallen ill so far, seven of whom needed to be hospitalized, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. Washington State and California have each identified six cases. No known deaths have occurred.
The FDA noted that Gibson Farms of Hollister, California, produced and distributed the walnuts, which were usually sold in bulk bins in stores. However, some retailers may have repackaged the shelled walnut halves and pieces into plastic clamshell packaging or bags.
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Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming were among the 19 states where the walnuts were marketed.
“State and local public health officials have interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they became ill,” the Food and Drug Administration stated. “Of the 10 people interviewed, all 10 [100%] reported eating walnuts, and almost all reported buying organic walnuts from bulk bins in food co-ops or natural food stores.”
The incidence was linked by FDA investigators to Gibson Farms, which on April 27 announced a corporate recall.
“Retailers and distributors that purchased recalled boxes of Gibson Farms, Inc. organic walnut halves and pieces with lot codes 3325-043 and 3341-501 should not sell this product and should notify their customers of the recall,” the Food and Drug Administration stated. If retailers are unsure whether they got the contaminated walnuts, they should get in touch with their suppliers.
The FDA advised retailers to notify customers if they knew they had sold the items between October and the end of April.
“Consumers who purchased organic walnut halves and pieces from bulk bins at stores listed below should check their pantries, refrigerators and freezers and should not eat the organic walnuts halves and pieces,” the Food and Drug Administration stated. “If you have these products in your home, do not eat or use them, throw them away and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched.”
E. Coli
A dangerous bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract called E. coli can cause vomiting, fever, diarrhea, severe cramping in the stomach, and/or nausea. The onset of symptoms usually happens a few days after eating contaminated food.
Bloody stools and “a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems” are two symptoms that the FDA cautioned about in relation to E. coli.
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