Trader Joe's Recalls Raw Walnuts for Salmonella Contamination

Trader Joe's has recalled some of its Raw Walnut products because of possible Salmonella contamination. According to WTOP, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the company's recall of the products this Tuesday, March 17, 2015. 

Cleveland.com reports that the contamination was reported by an outside company, which is contracted to test products for the U.S. FDA. WTOP adds that the company found some of the raw walnut packages from Trader Joe's were contaminated with Salmonella.  

As a result, the company has recalled its raw walnut products, specifically several of its Raw California Walnuts. It has also taken the products off the shelves.  

The FDA has listed the products that may be contaminated on its website. The list includes the products' UPC codes, Lot numbers and "Best By" dates. 

According to the list, the following Trader Joe's products are being recalled: Raw California Walnut Pieces (16 oz.), Raw California Walnut Halves & Pieces (16 oz.), Raw California Walnut Baking Pieces (16 oz.), Raw California Premium Walnut Halves (16 oz.), and Trader's Joe's Organic Raw Walnut Halves & Pieces (12 oz.). 

The FDA website states that all the products are in clear plastic bags. Consumers can find the UPC Codes on the back of all the packages.  

For all Raw California Walnut products, the "best buy" dates and the Lot numbers can be found on the back of the bags. Meanwhile, for the Organic Raw Walnut products, the "best buy" dates and Lot numbers can be found at the front of the bag. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella is a bacteria. People who have eaten food contaminated by the bacteria will show symptoms within 12 to 72 hours after infection, Cleveland.com reports.  

Healthy people who have been infected with Salmonella will experience fever, bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea, which can lead to vomiting, reports the FDA site. In more severe cases, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream causing more severe illnesses to occur, like infected aneurysms, arthritis, and endocarditis.  

The FDA website adds that Salmonella is extremely dangerous for young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems because it can lead to serious infections that are sometimes fatal. 

As of now, WTOP states that no one has been reported ill. Cleveland.com advises anyone who does feel ill, after eating any of the products mentioned above, to call the doctor immediately.   

Other walnut pacakages have been recalled, in the past two months, becase of Salmonella contamination as well, as seen in the video below.