An E. coli outbreak has affected dozens of people who ate bagged organic carrots, and one died from the infection.
In total, 39 people were infected and 15 were hospitalized in 18 states after eating whole and baby organic carrots sold by Grimmway Farms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Sunday.
Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California, recalled carrots, including whole and baby organic carrots sold in bags under multiple brand names, including: 365, Cal-Organic, Nature’s Promise, O-Organics, Trader Joe’s and Wegmans.
Carrots are no longer in stores, but the CDC warns consumers not to eat recalled bagged carrots and to check their refrigerators or freezers and throw away any carrots that come close to the description. Most infected people live in New York, Minnesota and Washington, followed by California and Oregon, although infections have been reported in states across the country, according to the CDC.
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 United States linked to sliced onions. In the United Kingdom, one person died in June in a lettuce-related E. coli outbreak that affected at least 275 people. Organic nuts 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 reducing infections caused by E. coli.
carrots baby Recalled organic products have expiration dates ranging from September 11 to November 12, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Symptoms of E. coli infection usually begin three to four days after ingesting 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 their healthcare provider what they ate, according to the CDC.
E. coli bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older people, and people with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.
