Carrots sold at Trader Joe's, Wegmans and other chains recalled due to possible E. coli contamination
If you've just purchased some organic carrots, it could be a good idea to take a look in your fridge.
Grimmway Farms announced in a press statement that certain organic whole and baby carrots available at various grocery store chains, such as Trader Joe's, Wegmans, Whole Foods, and Target, could be infected with E. coli bacteria.
The carrot manufacturer based in Bakersfield, California, has chosen to recall its products after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked them to a potential outbreak. As of now, there have been 39 reported cases, with 15 people hospitalized and one fatality across 18 states, as reported by the CDC.
According to the CDC, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli primarily impacts young children, especially those under 5, and older adults. This bacteria can lead to symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, intense stomach pain, and vomiting. In some uncommon instances, it may trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can result in kidney failure and, in extreme cases, death.
E. coli typically spreads through the waste of animals or humans and can subsequently taint food and water.
Grimmway Farms sent the recalled carrots to distribution centers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, where they were sold under various brand names such as Trader Joe's, Wegmans, Bunny-Luv, Nature's Promise, Simple Truth, Good & Gather, and 365. The company has released images of all the labels involved in the recall.
According to Grimmway Farms, the recalled whole carrots were available for purchase in stores between August 14 and October 23. Meanwhile, the baby carrots have best-before dates that fall between September 11 and November 12, 2024.
Although the recalled carrots are no longer available in stores, Grimmway Farms has advised customers who might have them in their refrigerators to dispose of them.
"We are fully committed to maintaining the safety and quality of our products," said President and CEO Jeff Huckaby in an announcement. "Our top concerns are the well-being of our customers and the reliability of our products, which is why we are carefully examining our cultivation, harvesting, and processing methods."
Last month, an outbreak of E. coli has been associated with slivered onions used in McDonald's Quarter Pounders. So far, over 104 individuals in 14 states have fallen ill due to this outbreak, and tragically, one person has lost their life.
Mirna Alsharif works as a reporter for NBC News, focusing on breaking news stories.
