Organic carrots recalled in US after deadly E. coli outbreak

Organic and baby carrots available in grocery stores throughout the United States have been pulled from shelves following an E. coli outbreak that has resulted in one fatality.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are currently 15 individuals hospitalized, and 39 cases have been confirmed across 18 states.

The recall involves bagged carrots provided by Grimmway Farms to major supermarket chains such as Trader Joe's, Whole Foods' 365 brand, Target's Good & Gather, Walmart's Marketside, Wegmans, and several others.

Officials indicate that the affected products are probably not available in stores any longer, but they might still be in residences. If that's the case, it's advised to dispose of them or return them to the store for a refund.

According to the AP news agency, the majority of those affected are located in New York, Minnesota, and Washington, with California and Oregon following closely behind.

According to the CDC, the recalled organic whole carrots do not feature a best-if-used-by date on the packaging, but they were sold between August 14 and October 23. Additionally, organic baby carrots with best-if-used-by dates ranging from September 11 to November 12 have also been recalled.

In addition to disposing of any recalled items, the CDC recommended that individuals clean and disinfect any surfaces they might have come into contact with.

Signs of O121 E. coli infection involve intense abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, typically appearing three to four days after ingesting the bacteria.

The majority of individuals heal on their own without needing medical intervention, but a few might experience severe kidney issues and require hospitalization, according to the CDC.

The recent E. coli cases associated with carrots follow a notable outbreak in the US that involved sliced onions found on certain McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers, which made 104 individuals sick.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier reported that one individual passed away in October, and 34 others were hospitalized due to that outbreak.