Today, I have some important news to share. There’s a new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, and it’s linked to organic walnuts. It turns out that many people got sickᅳover half had to go to the hospital.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says this outbreak started with walnut halves and pieces from Gibson Farms Inc., located in Hollister, California. These walnuts were sent to all kinds of natural food stores and co-ops in 19 different states and were sold right out of bulk bins.
If you have any of these walnuts at home, the best thing to do is throw them out. Also, if you’re not sure where the walnuts came from, it’s safer to just toss them.
Currently, the FDA’s working hard to figure out exactly which stores got these nuts, but as of the last update, there are 12 people in California and Washington who have gotten sick, and seven of them needed to be in the hospital. Out of 10 people who got interviewed, every single one said they ate walnuts, and most of them said they bought these organic walnuts from the bins in natural food stores or at food co-ops.
There could be even more people out there who are sick and we just don’t know it yet, as it takes a while to get sick and tell the health officials. Some people might not even go to the doctor, or they might not get the special tests you need to find E. Coli.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) talks about how for every single person who gets diagnosed with this type of E. Coli, there’s probably another 26 people who don’t get reported. Gibson Farms, where these walnuts came from, has already started apologizing and has asked their customers who sold the walnuts to let shoppers know.
The FDA and Gibson Farms are also trying to figure out where the E. Coli came from in the first place and if there’s anything else that might be having the same problem. The states where these walnuts were sent are:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wyoming
Now, for anyone who might have eaten the walnuts and feels sick, please go see a doctor. Tell them about eating the walnuts and you need special tests to find E. Coli. It can look like other diseases, but it often starts with a really bad stomach cramps and diarrhea, sometimes with blood. There might also be a fever, too. Most people started feeling better in about a week, but sometimes it can get really serious.
Unfortunately, about 5 to 10 percent of people with this E. Coli can get a really dangerous disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which is extremely fatal for kids under five, older folks, and anyone with a weak immune system. HUS can lead to kidney failure, and that’s why if you get symptoms like fever, belly pain, feeling super tired, peeing less, weird bruises or bleeding, or looking very pale, you need to get emergency help right away.
What Consumers Need to Know
The current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has prompted significant concern, especially because it has led to hospitalizations. Such outbreaks highlight the need for strict food safety practices, particularly when dealing with organic products that many consumers trust for their purity and health benefits.
It is important for those who have consumed organic walnuts from natural food stores or co-ops and are experiencing symptoms such as severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, or fever to seek medical attention immediately. As the CDC points out, early reporting and diagnosis are crucial not only for the patient’s health but also for tracking the outbreak’s source and preventing further spread.
Gibson Farms has issued apologies and is collaborating closely with health authorities to ensure clear communication with vendors and customers. More significantly, efforts are underway to investigate the origin of the contamination and to determine if other products may also be affected.
For updates on the situation and learning how to protect oneself from foodborne illnesses, consumers can visit FDA’s Food Safety page and the CDC’s E. coli resource center.
From The Club
I know sometimes we want to have quick snacks in the middle of the night, and walnuts satisfy this craving. However, when we shop for snacks, it’s important to know where stores get their supply, especially food co-ops and quick food stores, as we may be putting ourselves and our families in danger just because of being too complacent. Let’s keep in mind that food safety is everyone’s responsibilityᅳit’s about the choices we make in food shopping and food preparation.