January 1, FDA Issues Highest Warning on Shelled Walnuts Amid Listeria Concerns

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently ramped up the health risk warning on a nut recall to its highest level due to the potential for listeria exposure. This concerns shelled walnuts from Stutz Packing Company, based in Indio, California.

The company originally voluntarily recalled the product in July. However, last week, the FDA escalated this to a “Class I,” warning. This classification indicates that there’s a “reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to the agency.

These 1-pound packages were shipped to food bank warehouses in Texas and Arizona. They were then further distributed to smaller food banks, school lunch programs, shelters, and prison food systems. The affected packages are identified with lots 24171 1 or 24172 1 printed in black on the front of the bag, and with the UPC code 7 15001 00908 1.

While the reclassification did not report any illnesses or deaths related to this recall, it is crucial to note that the listeria danger was discovered during routine sampling of finished products. Upon its discovery, Stutz halted production and distribution of the product in July as both the company and the FDA continued their investigation.

A listeria outbreak earlier this summer, linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, resulted in three deaths and numerous illnesses. While this current recall does not include any other sizes, varieties, or packages of shelled walnuts from Stutz, it’s a potent reminder of the potential harm.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that listeria is particularly dangerous to those who are pregnant, over the age of 65, or suffer from a weakened immune system due to medical issues or treatments.

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