An E. coli outbreak has been linked to organic walnuts sold at stores in San Diego County.

Gibson Farms, a company based in Hollister, California, voluntarily recalled its Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts after discovering the nuts could be contaminated with an E. coli strain that causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools.

So far, 12 people have been sickened and seven have been hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The illnesses were reported in California and Washington. The walnuts were sold in bulk bins at food co-ops and natural food stores in Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

These are the San Diego area stores that sold the walnuts:

The nuts were sold in bulk boxes weighing 25 pounds with lot numbers 3325-043 and 3341-501, according to the FDA. They were shipped to distributors between Oct. 1, 2023, and April 24, 2024, and have expiration dates of May 21, 2025, and June 7, 2025.

E. coli often causes bloody diarrhea but most healthy adults recover within a week, according to the FDA. Some people, particularly young children and the elderly, can develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, which can lead to serious kidney damage and death.

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E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Organic Walnuts Sold in San Diego Stores, Including OB People's Food - OB Rag