Money Matters, Simplified.
Hazelnut recall issued amid food poisoning scare
by Neka Sehgal - March 6, 2011 - comments
The products affected by the recall were sold under the brand name Imperial Mixed Nuts, Sunripe, Supreme Mixed Nuts, , Firestone Farms, George Packing and Northwest Hazelnuts.
Los Angeles-based distributor, DeFranco and Sons is voluntarily recalling bulk and packaged in-shell hazelnuts, as well as mixed nut assortment containing hazelnuts called filberts, amid fears that they may be contaminated with a potentially fatal strain of E. coli.
DeFranco had received the in-shell nuts from suppliers or growers and subsequently distributed the products in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and also Canada from Nov. 2 through Dec. 22, 2010.
7 cases linked to hazelnuts reported
According to the California Department of Public Health, seven cases of food poisoning linked to eating hazelnuts, were reported between Dec. 20 and Jan. 28.
Three of those infected belonged to Minnesota, three including one child live in Wisconsin and one is from Michigan.
Although, none of the cases in Wisconsin needed medical intervention, residents in the other state were hospitalized.
According to the health regulators six had fallen sick after consuming nuts from bulk bins at retail food stores and one from packaged nuts.
According to the California Department of Public Health, seven cases of food poisoning linked to eating hazelnuts, were reported between Dec. 20 and Jan. 28
Products affected by the recall
The products affected by the recall were sold under the brand names, Sunripe, Imperial Mixed Nuts, Supreme Mixed Nuts, George Packing, Firestone Farms and Northwest Hazelnuts.
The recalled products were packaged in 1 to 50 lb. bags most with sell by dates of June 30, 2011.
According to DeFranco & Sons, the hazelnuts may have been repacked into smaller, unlabelled units, or sold from bulk containers.
However, out-of-shell hazelnuts and products containing hazelnuts as an ingredient are not implicated in any illness and are unaffected by the recall.
People with queries relating to the recall can get in touch with the company at 800-993-3992, Monday to Friday, from 2 to 4 p.m. Pacific time.
Potential health hazards of E. Coli
E. coli is a food borne illness caused by the ingestion of the deadly bacterium. Symptoms of poisoning include bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in some serious cases kidney failure.
It may cause a mild fever, nausea, or vomiting. Though most people are back on their feet within 10 days, some patients develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, which destroys the red blood cells leading to kidney failure.
The symptoms are worse in children and older people, and especially in people who have another illness.
The most common way to get this infection is by eating contaminated food or meat that is not cooked properly. When you eat undercooked beef, the germs go into your stomach and intestines.
People with signs or symptoms of illness are urged to contact their healthcare provider.