Food safety alert
Investigation start date: April 30, 2024
Investigation status: Closed
Recall issued: Yes
Epidemiologic and traceback data showed that Gibson Farms, Inc. organic walnut halves and pieces were contaminated with E. coli and made people sick. This product should no longer be for sale.
Fast Facts
United States
- Cases: 13
- Hospitalizations: 7
- Deaths: 0
- States: 2
Epidemiologic and traceback data showed that Gibson Farms, Inc. organic walnut halves and pieces were contaminated with E. coli and made people sick. This product should no longer be for sale.
Outbreak investigation summary
This outbreak is over. Learn what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick from E.coli. Almost all sick people purchased organic walnuts from bulk bins in food co-ops or natural food stores in California and Washington.
Gibson Farms, Inc. organic walnut halves and pieces
- Sold in bulk bins
- Expiration dates between May 21, 2025, and June 7, 2025
- Distributed to natural food and co-op stores in AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, LA, MT, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY
- Lot codes 3325-043 and 3341-501
What you should do
Follow these four steps to prevent getting sick from E. coli.
- Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or peeling.
- Separate: Keep food that won’t be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
- Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
- Chill: Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the outside temperature is hotter than 90°F, refrigerate within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
Symptoms of E. coli
- Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
- Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
- Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
- For more information about E. coli, see the E. coli Questions and Answers page.