Nuts sold in Washington sicken 6 people with E. coli. Here’s where they were sold

Organic walnuts have been linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least six people in Washington and six in California, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

The walnuts were sold across the state of Washington, including in Richland, Tacoma, Olympia and Bellingham.

They may have been sold in bulk bins, or they may have been repackaged in plastic clamshells or bags and sold.

Stores that carried them include:

▪ Yokes Fresh Market, 454 Keene Road, Richland.

▪ Central Co-op, 4502 N. Pearl St., Tacoma.

▪ Olympia Food Co-op, 3111 Pacific Ave. S.E., Olympia.

▪ Community Food Co-op Cordata, 315 Westerly Road, Bellingham.

▪ Community Food Co-op Downtown, 1220 N. Forest St., Bellingham.

Shoppers can also ask stores where they purchased walnut halves and pieces if their nuts are part of the Food and Drug Administration recall. A full list of stores known to have sold the walnuts is posted at bit.ly/4dvW9F0.

Recalled walnuts should be discarded.

Containers and any surfaces they touched should be washed with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher, says the Department of Health.

E. coli bacteria can cause severe or even life-threatening infections, usually starting three or four days after eating contaminated food.

Symptoms include diarrhea (which is often bloody), severe abdominal pain and vomiting.

Most people get better in five to seven days, but children 5 years or younger are at higher risk of severe illness.

About 5 to 10% of people diagnosed with the E. coli infection develop the potentially life-threatening complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

This story was originally published April 30, 2024 at 4:35 PM.