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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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The voluntary recall of some of Gibson Farms' Organic Light halves and pieces shelled walnuts in April has now been escalated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to a level 1 threat—the most severe type of recall issued by the agency.
The recall affected 1,260 cases of walnuts from Gibson Farms which the company warned on April 26 might be contaminated with Escherichia coli, or E. coli 0157:H7—the most common strain of the bacteria to cause illness in people, and in extreme cases, death. On Wednesday, the FDA escalated the Gibson Farms' one to a Class 1 recall, which indicates that there is a potential for serious injury or death after consuming the affected product.
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Newsweek contacted Gibson Farms and the FDA for comment by email on Wednesday morning.
The 0157:H7 strain of E. coli causes diarrhea, stomach cramps, pain or tenderness, nausea, vomiting and occasionally fever. According to website NHS Inform, about half of the people infected with E.coli have bloody diarrhea. While symptoms can develop at any time between one and 14 days after being infected, people usually notice within three to four days from the infection.
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Although rare, an E. coli 0157 infection can be deadly. A small number of people who contract the infection can develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which can sometimes lead to kidney failure and even death. HUS is most likely to affect young children and the elderly.
The Gibson Farms' walnuts affected by the recall were distributed in the states of California and Washington in bulk boxes in net weight of .25 lbs quantities. It can be identified by lot 3325-043 and 3341-501, with the expiration dates of May 21, 2025 and June 7, 2025. The company recalled the products after being notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of 12 recorded illnesses allegedly linked to the consumption of its organic halves and pieces of shelled walnuts.
There's an ongoing investigation to find out how the products might have got contaminated with the bacteria.
E. coli 0157 can be found in cattle, sheep, pigs, deer, dogs and poultry—but it doesn't cause illness in animals. People can get infected with it through contaminated food—for example, raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat—,contact with infected animals or people who are ill with it, drinking improperly treated water and swimming or playing in contaminated water.
Consumers with any question regarding the recall can contact Veronica Cheatham at 831-637-3512 or email foodsafety@gibsonfarmsinc.com between 8:30 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. PST from Monday to Friday.
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