Gibson Farms Issues Recall of Organic Walnuts Due to E. coli Risk

Photo byOlga KononenkoonUnsplash

By Staff Writer | iSkyCreations - News & Media (ISC News & Media)
Published May 2nd, 2024

HOLLISTER, CA — Gibson Farms announced a voluntary recall of their Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts on April 26, 2024, after concerns arose over possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7, a bacterium that can cause serious illness. The recall affects products distributed in California and Washington.

The affected walnuts are sold in 25-pound bulk boxes with lot numbers 3325-043 and 3341-501, and expiration dates of May 21, 2025, and June 7, 2025, respectively. This action follows a notification from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linking 12 reported cases of illness to the consumption of the implicated walnut products.

lot 3325-043 & 3341-501 with expiration dates 5/21/25 & 6/7/25.Photo byFDA

E. coli O157:H7 is known to cause diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. While most healthy adults recover within a week, the infection can lead to a potentially life-threatening complication known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), particularly in young children and the elderly. HUS can cause serious kidney damage and even death.

Gibson Farms is cooperating with health officials to trace the source of the contamination and has urged distributors and retailers to stop sales and return unsold products to their warehouse at 1190 Buena Vista Rd, Hollister, CA 95023. Retailers are also advised to sanitize any bins used to store the walnuts before refilling them.

Consumers, distributors, and retailers who have questions or need further information can contact Veronica Cheatham at Gibson Farms at 831-637-3512 or via email at foodsafety@gibsonfarmsinc.com from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM PST, Monday through Friday.

The FDA has released a list of retail locations that may have received the recalled walnuts. However, they advise checking both the product-specific identification information and the list of stores due to uncertainties in tracking the exact distribution of the bulk products.

Source: FDA

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