An E. coli outbreak linked to bagged organic whole and baby carrots sold at popular grocery stores has sickened dozens of people across multiple states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 15 hospitalizations and one death reported.
The carrots were recalled 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.
While the carrots are no longer sold in stores, the CDC urged consumers to check the refrigerators for the contained food.
"These products are likely no longer in stores for sale but may still be in your home," the CDC added.
Which states are impacted?
Altogether, a total of 39 people were sickened across 18 states, including several parts of the Midwest. 15 of those people were hospitalized, the CDC said, and one person died. According to officials, the true number of sick people is "likely much higher" than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to states with known illnesses.
A full list of states where people reported illness after eating the carrots can be found below:
- Washington: 8 people
- Oregon: 3 people
- California: 3 people
- Wyoming: 1 person
- Colorado: 1 person
- Texas: 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 brands recalled
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According to the CDC, the recall includes bagged, organic whole and baby carrots sold at a number of popular grocery stories, including Trader Joe's Whole Foods and Target. The carrots were shipped to retail distribution centers nationwide in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, the Food and Drug Administration said.
A full list of the products recalled can be found below:
Baby Organic Carrots (best-if-used by dates ranging from 9/11/2024 to 11/12/2024):
- 365
- Bunny Luv
- Cal-Organic
- Compliments
- Full Circle
- Good & Gather
- GreenWise
- Grimmway Farms
- Marketside
- Nature's Promise
- O-Organic
- President's Choice
- Raley's
- Simple Truth
- Sprouts
- Trader Joe's
- Wegman's
- Wholesome Pantry
Whole Organic Carrots (were available for purchase in stores between 8/14/2024 and 10/23/2024):
- 365
- Bunny Luv
- Cal-Organic
- Complements
- Full Circle
- Good & Gather,
- GreenWise
- Marketside
- Nature's Promise
- O-Organic
- President's Choice
- Simple Truth
- Trader Joe's
- Wegman's
- Wholesome Pantry
There have been several E. coli outbreaks in recent months. In October, more than 100 McDonald’s customers were sickened by an E. coli outbreak in the U.S. linked to slivered onions. In the U.K., one person died in an E. coli outbreak in June linked to lettuce that sickened 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 there hasn’t been much progress in curbing infections caused by E. coli.
E. coli symptoms
Symptoms of E. coli infection usually start 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, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.
