Watch Your Walnuts: What You Should Now About E. Coli Outbreak In California

At least 12 people, including six in California, have gotten sick from a multi-state E. coli outbreak in recalled organic walnuts, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The walnuts, produced by Gibson Farms, were sold locally in natural food and co-op stores in Highland Park, Mar Vista, Studio City, the Franklin Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, as well as in more than a dozen other states.

Consumers are warned to double check their products and call a doctor if they start showing severe E. coli symptoms. The FDA continues to investigate the contamination.

An important thing to keep in mind: Public health officials have interviewed some of those people about the foods they ate before they became ill, and almost all reported buying organic walnuts from bulk bins.

What walnuts to watch out for

Gibson Farms has recalled its Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts sold in 25 pound bulk boxes.

The product shipped to stores across the country as recently as two weeks ago with expiration dates between May 21, 2025 and June 7, 2025.

The walnuts may be contaminated with E. coli and could make you sick. Customers are being encouraged to check their kitchen supplies for the product and to not eat the nuts.

If you do have some on hand, throw them away and then thoroughly sanitize any surface the nuts may have come into contact with. If you’re not sure they’re part of the recall, the CDC recommends you don’t eat them either.

Stores are also being told to pull the products from shelves and contact customers.

About the outbreak and symptoms

Of the dozen people infected in the E. coli outbreak, at least seven have been hospitalized, and two have developed a serious syndrome that can cause kidney failure, according to the CDC.

The CDC expects the number of sick people to be much higher than what's been reported to date, that's because it typically takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine whether people who've been sickened are part of an outbreak.

E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting just a few days after swallowing the bacteria.

While most people recover within a week without treatment, you should call your healthcare provider if you start showing severe symptoms, including a fever higher than 102° F, excessive vomiting, and signs of dehydration.

The FDA is looking into what caused the contamination and if any other products or stores may be impacted. You can find a full list of locations where the walnuts were sold here.