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Organic walnuts tied to 2-state outbreak of E coli infections
News brief Today at 11:39 a.m.
Jim Wappes
Topics E coli Foodborne Disease
Walnut bowl
At least 12 people in California and Washington state have been sickened and 7 people hospitalized in an Escherichia coli O157 outbreak traced to Gibson Farms organic walnuts that are sold in 19 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a food safety alert yesterday.
Two patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious and potentially fatal kidney condition. The CDC said in a news release, "Almost all sick people purchased organic walnuts from bulk bins in food co-ops or natural food stores in California and Washington." Two people bought bulk walnuts from the same store.
Company recalls bulk walnuts
In a recall notice yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Gibson Farms has voluntarily recalled the implicated walnuts. "Gibson Farms Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts were sold in bulk boxes in Net Wt. 25 lbs quantities and can be identified by lot 3325-043 & 3341-501 with expiration dates 5/21/25 & 6/7/25."
The agency added, "A full investigation is currently under way to determine the potential source of the contamination."
The CDC said the nuts were distributed to natural food and co-op stores in Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. The FDA has posted a list of stores that sold the walnuts.
Gibson Farms, Inc, is headquartered in Hollister, California.
First patient fell ill on February 1
The 12 patients—6 in California and 6 in Washington—range in age from 6 to 84 years, with a median age of 57. Eight are female. Of 10 patients who reported racial information, 9 are White and 1 is Black.
Illness-onset dates range from February 1 to April 4. No deaths have been reported.
"The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses," the CDC said.
