Carrots from 18 brands have been recalled across the country due to E. coli. The FDA warns consumers to throw out contaminated carrots immediately.
More Carrots Recalled Due to Deadly E. Coli Contamination
Published on Nov. 20, 2024
Take a close look at those bags of carrots in your refrigerator or freezer. An ongoing nationwide recall affecting 18 brands of carrots has sparked a bacterial outbreak in at least 18 states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first announced on November 16 that select organic whole and baby carrots, distributed by the California-based company Grimmway Farms and marketed under various brand names, are now under recall. The produce was found to be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19, a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes deadly illness in vulnerable people.
To date, 39 illnesses, 15 hospitalizations, and one death have been associated with an E. coli O121:H19 outbreak, the CDC says.
According to a pair of letters that Costco penned to its members yesterday, on November 19, the recall now affects Cal-Organic Farms Whole Organic Carrots and Cal-Organic Farms Cut & Peeled Baby Organic Carrots.
The affected Cal-Organic Farms Whole Organic Carrots were packaged between August 15 and September 30. They were sold in six pound bags and bear the item number 1352.
Cal-Organic Farms Cut & Peeled Baby Organic Carrots were sold in two 32 oz. packages, bearing a best-by date of September 30 and the item number 412.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, many strains of E. coli can live in your gut without harming your health. However, some strains can make you sick with watery diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or a fever. Severe cases can also produce urinary tract infections, bloody stool, hypertension, and chronic kidney problems. “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is most likely to cause severe illness,” their experts write.
Young children, elderly people, and those with a weakened immune system are at the greatest risk of serious illness or even death. If you are exposed to E. coli O121:H19, you may become ill in as little as 24 hours or as long as 10 days.
There are two types of products that were shipped directly to retail distribution centers nationwide in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada, the FDA says:
- Organic whole carrots, which do not have a best-if-used-by date printed on the bag, but were available for purchase at retail stores from August 14 through October 23, 2024
- Organic baby carrots with best-if-used-by-dates ranging from September 11 through November 12, 2024
Specific brands affected by the recall include:
- 365: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb bag sizes (whole carrots) and 12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
- Bunny Luv: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, 10 lb, 25 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb, 5 lb (baby carrots)
- Cal-Organic: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, 6 lb, 10 lb, 25 lb (whole carrots) and 12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb, 2 pk/2lb (baby carrots)
- Compliments: 2 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb (baby carrots)
- Full Circle: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb (baby carrots)
- Good & Gather: 2 lb (whole carrots) and 12 oz, 1 lb (baby carrots)
- GreenWise: 1 lb, 25 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb (baby carrots)
- Grimmway Farms: 25 lb bag (baby carrots)
- Marketside: 2 lb (whole carrots) and 12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
- Nature’s Promise: 1 lb, 5 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb (baby carrots)
- O-Organics: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, 10 lb (whole carrots) and 12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
- President’s Choice: 2 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
- Raley’s: 1 lb (baby carrots)
- Simple Truth: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
- Sprouts: 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
- Trader Joe’s: 1 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb (baby carrots)
- Wegmans: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb (whole carrots) and 12 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
- Wholesome Pantry: 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb (whole carrots) and 1 lb, 2 lb (baby carrots)
“We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously,” Grimmway Farms President and CEO Jeff Huckaby said via news release. “The health of our customers and the integrity of our products are our highest priorities, and we are conducting a thorough review of our growing, harvest, and processing practices. Our food safety team is working with our suppliers and health authorities.”
If you believe you have the compromised carrots in your home, health authorities say you should not consume them. Instead, “throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched,” the FDA says. “Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a medical professional.”
Consumers with questions may contact Grimmway’s customer service representatives at 1 (800) 301-3101 (Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET), or visit www.grimmway.com for more information.
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