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The state Department of Health notified the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. on Friday of the presence of E. coli bacteria in its Keaau water system. The company said no Mauna Loa mac nut products were affected.
The company said the positive sample may be due to a problem with its disinfection system, which was also discovered on Friday.
Mauna Loa said the water may not have been properly disinfected and as a result may pose a risk for customers. It recommended that Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Water System consumers and employees not drink water from the system.
The company said it is collecting additional samples to test for the presence of E. coli.
The presence of E. coli bacteria indicates that water may be contaminated from human or animal waste and can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms if consumed. The bacteria can be particularly dangerous for infants, young children, elderly persons and people with severely compromised immune systems.
The company did not issue any product recalls.
“Due to multiple safeguards in place to ensure quality, Mauna Loa confirms that all products currently available in stores or previously purchased are safe for consumption. Mauna Loa Nut Corporation is committed to the highest industry standards and is working diligently to determine the cause of the potential water contamination,” the company statement said.
General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Residents who would like more information about the situation may contact Lotus Pond Communications at 551-1649.
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