Back in October, Trader Joe’s opened a Jacksonville Beach location to much fanfare. It’s the popular grocery chain’s first venture into our area. But if you recently shopped there, take note. The supermarket chain has issued a recall of its raw walnuts after FDA-confirmed reports of Salmonella contamination in certain packages. Meanwhile, Iowa-based Frontier Co-op also announced this week that it is voluntarily recalling dozens of products manufactured with organic garlic powder sold under its Frontier and Simply Organic brands, plus another product sold under the Whole Foods Market brand, also due to potential Salmonella contamination.
Affected products include the garlic powder itself, plus seasonings, broths, sauces and dips that contain it. Salmonella is an intestinal bacterium that can lead to serious infections and illnesses, particularly in at-risk groups such as like young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps that typically show up 12 to 72 hours after exposure.
Most victims recover in four to seven days without treatment. However, those experiencing severe symptoms may need to be hospitalized and treated with antibiotics. If a Salmonella infection spreads from the intestines into the blood stream, it can prove fatal. In rare cases, infection also can lead to more severe health conditions including infected aneurysms, endocarditis (an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart) and arthritis. To determine whether you’ve purchased any of the recalled products, check label and lot information found on the Frontier Co-op website and the FDA website. All can be returned to the store for full refunds.
However, if you or your family suffered an illness after eating or handling one of the recalled products, keep the product and packaging intact and get medical treatment immediately. Then, call 80
0-251-1111 to speak with a product liability or personal injury attorney who can help you secure fair compensation for losses including medical treatment and lost wages resulting from your illness.