One person has died and nearly 40 others across 18 states have become sick due to an E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots.
Investigators have linked the outbreak to California-based Grimmway Farms, one of the largest carrot producers in the U.S. The carrots were sold at stores nationwide including Trader Joe's, Wegmans and Walmart.
Recalled products include:
• Organic whole carrots, which do not have a best-if-used-by date printed on the bag, but were available for purchase from August 14 through October 23 under the following brand names: 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O Organic, President’s Choice, Simple Truth, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry.
• Organic baby carrots with best-if-used-by-dates ranging from September 11 through November 12, sold under the following brand names: 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Grimmway Farms, Kroger, LIDL, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O Organic, President’s Choice, Raley’s, Simple Truth, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry.
As of November 17, the CDC says 39 people have been sickened in 18 states, including: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. Fifteen people were so sick that they had to be hospitalized, and one person has died.
The CDC warned that the outbreak may have reached additional states and the actual number of infected individuals is likely much higher than reported.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 27 people interviewed, 26 (96%) reported eating carrots.
The FDA's traceback investigation identified Grimmway Farms as the common supplier of the carrots and on November 16, the company initiated a recall. The FDA is still working to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are affected.
While the carrots are likely no longer available for sale in stores, officials say they could be in people's refrigerators or freezers.
If you have these products in your home, do not eat or use them; throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched. Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a medical professional.
Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. Symptoms begin anywhere from a few days after consuming contaminated food or up to nine days later. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.