The public is being warned not to eat certain President's Choice and Reddi Snack raw walnuts, because they may contain E. coli.

The nuts were imported from United States, packaged in Canada and then distributed across the country, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.

There have been no confirmed illnesses from eating the nuts, the agency said. Still, the Canadian packager, Johnvince Foods from Downsview, Ont., is voluntarily recalling the affected nuts.

The products affected are:

  • President's Choice, Raw California Walnut Halves Unsalted;, 250 g; UPC 0 60383 87185 7; Best Before date: 2012 OC 07
  • Reddi Snack Hand Selected California Walnuts; 350 g;, UPC 0 64777 28695 1

The CFIA warns that nuts and other foods contaminated with E. coli bacteria may not look or smell bad. But the bacteria can cause serious, life-threatening illness.

Symptoms of E. coli infection include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may suffer permanent kidney damage. In severe cases, the illness can be fatal.

For more information on the recall, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.

Earlier this year, 14 people were sickened after eating E. coli-contaminated walnuts distributed by Montreal-based Amira Enterprises.

One patient in Quebec with an underlying medical condition died during the outbreak, which also affected people in Ontario and New Brunswick.