At least twelve people have been affected by a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections linked to walnuts, according to FoxBusiness.com. Seven individuals required hospitalization after consuming the contaminated organic walnuts from Gibson Farms Inc. in Hollister, California. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities to investigate the outbreak tied to bulk bins of organic walnuts distributed across more than a dozen states.
State and local health officials have interviewed around ten people who confirmed consuming walnuts before falling ill, most of whom purchased them from bulk bins at food co-ops or natural food stores. The FDA has a list of impacted stores on its website, including specific Whole Foods Market locations. However, it’s possible that some stores repackaged the bulk walnuts into plastic clamshells or bags before selling them to customers.
Gibson Farms Inc., which is based in Hollister, issued a voluntary recall at the end of April after being traced back as the source of contamination through a traceback investigation by the FDA. The company contacted its distributing customers with instructions on how to return any remaining bulk walnuts for refund or replacement. As the FDA continues to work with Gibson Farms Inc., its distributors, and state and local health officials to pinpoint the source of contamination, federal officials are determining whether other products or states have been affected by this outbreak. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.