A California-based farm is recalling its carrots, including whole and baby organic carrots, following an E coli outbreak that has infected multiple people across the country.
In a statement on Saturday, Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield said that it has issued its recall of the carrots “that should no longer be in grocery stores but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers”. The recall comes amid 39 reported E coli infections across 18 states, including 15 hospitalizations and one death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The majority of the infections are in New York, Minnesota, Washington, California and Oregon, the Associated Press reports.
Grimmway Farms said that its carrot products may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, or E coli, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people and those with compromised immune systems.
Grimmway Farms’ recalled products include its organic whole carrots which were available for purchase at retail stores from 14 August through 23 October 2024, as well as organic baby carrots with best-if-used-by dates between 11 September and 12 November 2024.
The carrots, which were shipped directly to retail distribution centers across the US, Puerto Rico and Canada, have been sold under various labels including 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Nature’s Promise, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, as well as O Organics.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, E coli infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea conditions or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
The incubation period for E coli in humans can range from 24 hours to up to 10 days, with an average incubation period of three to four days.
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Grimmway Farms’ recall comes amid McDonald’s E coli outbreak that has infected at least 104 people – and hospitalized at least 34. The outbreak, which has been tied to onions served on its Quarter Pounders, has been detected in 14 states.
McDonalds has said that it is investing $100m to “accelerate recovery and support the most heavily impacted franchisees” following the outbreak, CBS reported on Saturday.
“A total of $65m will be invested into supporting franchisees who have lost business, targeting those in the states that were most affected,” McDonalds added.
