The FDA has released more details about the recall of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut products for possible E. coli contamination. This recall was started because the pathogenic bacteria was found in the well water and distribution system at the facility. No illnesses have been reported.
The Hawaii Department of Health notified Mauna Loa that a water sample in their system tested positive for E. coli bacteria on September 21, 2018. More test samples were positive, so a recall was advised. The recalled products were all produced between September 6 – 21, 2018.
You can see the long list of recalled products, along with lot numbers, UPC numbers, and can sizes at the FDA web site. The recalled items include various sizes of Mauna Loa Roasted Salted Macadamia Nuts, Mauna Loa Honey Roasted Macadamia, Mauna Loa Maui Onion Garlic Macadamia Nuts, Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nuts, Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Macadamia Nuts, Mauna Loa Honey Roasted Macadamia Nuts, and Mauna Loa Shortbread Cookies, among others. These products were packaged in Keaau, Hawaii, and were only sold in retail stores in Hawaii.
If you purchased any of these Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut products, do not eat them, even if you plan to cook or bake with them. You should discard them in a sealed or wrapped container in a secure garbage can. You can also take them back to the store where you purchased them for a refund.
The symptoms of an E. coli infection include abdominal cramps that are severe and painful, nausea, and diarrhea that may be bloody or watery. Symptoms usually appear a few days to a week after ingesting food contaminated with this bacteria.
