One of the world’s largest producers of carrots issued a recall of some contaminated organic whole and baby carrots following suspicion that they may have sparked a fatal disease outbreak, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Saturday.
Grimmway Farms issued the recall as the vegetables “may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19,” which “can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and those with a weakened immune system,” the FDA reposted.
The agricultural giant recalled the products amid an ongoing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-led investigation of the O121:H19 outbreak. There have been 39 cases so far, across 18 states, with 15 patients hospitalized and one dead, the CDC said. (RELATED: Salmonella Outbreak Sparks Recall Across 15 States)
Grimmway Farms recalls organic whole carrots and select baby carrots, sold at Trader Joe’s and Wegmans, after the CDC found that they may be associated with an E. coli outbreak. https://t.co/o1Nyobr0xS
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 17, 2024
The select organic whole carrots — which included brands labeled “President’s Choice,” “Simple Truth” and “Wholesome Pantry” — were up for sale Aug. 14–Oct. 23 in retail stores across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico and Canada, but had no best-if-used-by date label, according to the recall statement.
The select organic baby carrots reportedly had best-if-used-by-dates ranging from Sep. 11 through Nov. 12, 2024.
Consumers might already have bought the vegetables from grocery stores, the statement revealed.
Officials said organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms are linked to the outbreak. A total of 39 people have been infected with E. coli in over 18 states, including California.https://t.co/yMVnkHiE4Z pic.twitter.com/CKcskVCsdt
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) November 17, 2024
Authorities warned consumers who bought the select vegetables to discard or destroy them, call the Grimmway Farms’ helpline, or return the products to the stores. Surfces on which the vegetables might have been placed should be disinfected using soap and hot water.
Farms from which some consumers might directly have bought the carrots “are out of production, and none of the recalled carrots have tested positive for E. coli O121:H19,” Grimmway Farms added.
If any consumer should experience signs and symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting, they must call their healthcare providers, the authorities warned. Complications from the E. coli infection include hemolytic uremic syndrome, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and neurologic problems.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome — in which blood clots from damaged blood vessels can damage the kidneys and other vital organs — could lead to kidney failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Grimmway, together with Bolthouse Farms, produced not less than 60% of the 100 million pounds of carrots Americans were projected to consume during Thanksgiving 2023, according to Forbes. The fresh carrot market is worth about $1.4 billion in the U.S. alone, the outlet added.
Both farms are headquartered in Bakersfield, California.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
