E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Organic Carrots

Got organic carrots in your fridge? The CDC, the FDA, and public health officials in several states are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to multiple brands of organic whole bagged carrots and organic baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms. Some of these products were carried by local supermarkets, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Star Market.

Grimmway Farms has issued a recall. These recalled carrots should no longer be in grocery stores but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. You can view the list of recalled organic whole and baby carrots on the FDA’s website. 

As of November 17, 39 people are infected in 18 states with 15 having been hospitalized. One death has been reported from California. Please note that this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.

Check your home for recalled bagged organic carrots. Do not eat recalled carrots. Throw them away. Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled organic carrots using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

The CDC recommends calling your healthcare provider if you have severe E. coli symptoms:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
  • Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
  • Bloody diarrhea
• So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
  • Not peeing much
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Feeling dizzy when standing up

You can learn about E. coli on the CDC’s website.