Walnuts Sold Nationwide Are Being Recalled Due to an Active E. Coli Outbreak—Here's What You Need to Know

If walnuts are a snack you typically keep on hand, you may want to check your supply. An active multi-state outbreak of E. coli has been linked to organic walnuts sold nationwide, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The walnut halves and pieces were sold in bulk bins at food and co-op stores, including Whole Foods, in Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Per the FDA, some stores may repackage bulk walnut halves and pieces into plastic clamshells or bags.

The FDA has identified Gibson Farms, Inc. as the common supplier of walnuts in this outbreak. On April 27, 2024, the company initiated a voluntary recall and contacted its distributing customers. The FDA is working with Gibson Farms, Inc. and its distributors to determine the source of the contamination.

So far, there have been 12 reported illnesses and seven hospitalizations linked to the recall. State and local public health officials have interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they became ill. Of the 10 people that were interviewed, all 10 said they ate organic walnuts purchased from bulk bins.

The FDA is urging consumers who purchased organic walnut halves and pieces from bulk bins to throw away the product and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched. Symptoms of E. coli include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. People infected with E. coli may begin to experience symptoms anywhere from a few days after consuming contaminated food to up to nine days later.