Recalling the hazelnuts it sold last year, a Los Angeles based nut distributer told that they were packed in their shells by DeFranco & Sons and sold under the brand names Sunripe, George Packing, Firestone Farms and Northwest Hazelnut.

The hazelnuts were distributed to several retailers across the nation after federal and state health officials linked them to seven cases of E. coli contamination in the Midwest.

Warning the consumers to dispose these hazelnuts, the state officials stated that the nuts were grown at the farms in Oregon and some of them were distributed in 50-pound bags and might have been sold in bulk by grocery stores for the holidays.

The company opined that there was no evidence of presence on E. coli in its products and the results of government lab tests are still pending.

Ben Miller of the state Department of Agriculture's dairy and food inspection division explained that hazelnuts grew on trees but the contamination occurred when they fell on the ground before harvesting.

In addition, he said, “The fact that they do spend some time on the ground increases the risk of environmental contamination. The investigation is now focusing on farms in Oregon that produce the majority of U. S. hazelnuts”.