Illinois Firm Recalls Shelled Walnuts for Potential Listeria

Belleville Farmer’s Market of Belleville, IL, is recalling packages of its shelled walnuts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recalled shelled walnuts were distributed in the company’s Belleville retail stores. The product comes in an 8-ounce clear plastic package marked with a Farmer’s Market label indicating pack dates from March 2014 through May 2014.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.  The recall was initiated after FDA sampling detected Listeria monocytogenes in walnuts sampled from a supplier. All walnuts processed in the supplier’s facility during the same time frame as the product found positive are being recalled.  Listeria is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.  Consumers who have purchased the company’s 8-ounce packages of shelled walnuts are urged to return them to 1901 N. Belt West in Belleville for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-618-235-9500.  There was another walnut recall last week for potential Listeria contamination. That one was in connection with Sherman Produce of St. Louis, MO, and involved the recall of 241 cases of bulk walnuts packaged in 25-lb. bulk cardboard boxes and Schnucks brand 10-oz. trays.