An E. coli outbreak linked to bagged organic whole carrots and baby carrots sold at popular supermarkets has sickened dozens of people in multiple states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 15 hospitalizations and one death.
The carrots were recalled on Nov. 16 by California-based Grimmway Farms, the CDC said. The recall includes multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic baby and whole carrots, officials said.
Although the carrots are no longer sold in stores, the CDC urged consumers to check refrigerators for the food inside.
“These products are likely no longer available in stores, but may still be in your home,” the CDC added.
Which states are affected?
In total, a total of 39 people became ill in 18 states, including several parts of the Midwest. Fifteen of those people were hospitalized, the CDC said, and one person died. Officials say the actual number of sick people is “likely much higher” than the reported number, and the outbreak may not be limited to states with known illnesses.
A full list of states where people reported illness after eating the roots is below:
- Washington: 8 people
- Oregon: 3 people
- California: 3 people
- Wyoming: 1 person
- Colorado: 1 person
- Texel: 1 person
- Minnesota: 5 people
- Missouri: 1 person
- Arkansas: 1 person
- Michigan: 1 person
- Ohio: 1 person
- South Carolina: 2 people
- North Carolina: 1 person
- Virginia: 1 person
- Pennsylvania: 1 person
- New Jersey: 2 people
- Massachusetts: 1 person
- New York: 5 people
List of recalled brands
According to the CDC, the recall also includes bags, organic whole carrots and baby carrots sold at some popular grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s Whole Foods and Target. The carrots were shipped to distribution centers across the country in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, the Food and Drug Administration said.
A full list of the recalled products is below:
Baby organic carrots (best used on dates ranging from 9/11/2024 to 11/12/2024):
- 365
- Bunny Luv
- Cal-Organic
- Compliments
- Full circle
- Good & collect
- GroenWijs
- Grimmway Farms
- Market side
- The promise of nature
- O-organic
- President’s choice
- Raley’s
- Simple truth
- Sprouts
- Trader Joe’s
- Wegmans
- Healthy pantry
Whole organic carrots (were for sale in stores between 14-08-2024 and 23-10-2024):
- 365
- Bunny Luv
- Cal-Organic
- Complements
- Full circle
- Good & collect,
- GroenWijs
- Market side
- The promise of nature
- O-organic
- President’s choice
- Simple truth
- Trader Joe’s
- Wegmans
- Healthy pantry
There have been several E.coli outbreaks in recent months. In October, more than 100 McDonald’s customers fell ill due to an E. coli outbreak in the US linked to chopped onions. In Britain, one person died in an E. coli outbreak linked to lettuce in June, sickening at least 275 people. Organic walnuts sickened consumers in 19 states with E. coli infections in April.
Despite the number of recent outbreaks, experts say the food supply is generally safe, although not much progress has been made in reducing infections caused by E. coli.
E. coli symptoms
Symptoms of an E. coli infection usually begin three to four days after eating the bacteria and include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, which is often bloody, and vomiting. People with severe symptoms of an E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell the provider what they ate, the CDC said.
The bacteria E. coli can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.
