Trader Joe's Announces Voluntary Product Recall

By Les Masterson (Patch Staff)

Attention Trader Joe’s shoppers -- the retail grocery chain is recalling raw walnuts because of the “potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.”

The FDA said the walnuts were distributed to Trader Joe’s stores nationwide. Trader Joe’s operates locations in Sarasota, Tampa and St. Petersburg.

“Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection withSalmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis,” said the FDA.

The potential for contamination was found after routine testing by an outside company contracted by the FDA. The company is removing all of the products as a precaution, said the FDA.

Trader Joe’s has not received any illness complaints related to the products.

“The products are packaged in clear plastic bags with the UPC Codes printed on the back. For the Raw California Walnut products, the ’BEST BY’ dates and Lot Numbers can be found printed on the back of the packages. For the Organic Raw Walnut products, the ’BEST BY’ dates can be found printed on the front of the packages.”

Find the specific UPC Codes and ”BEST BY” dates here.

Customers who purchased the products are urged not to eat it and dispose of it. You can also return to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund.

Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST.

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