One death and dozens of infections in E coli outbreak linked to organic carrots in the US | California

A California-based farm is recalling its carrots, including whole and organic baby carrots, after an E coli outbreak that has infected multiple people across the country.

In a statement on Saturday, Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield said it has issued a recall for the carrots “which should no longer be in grocery stores, but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.” The recall comes amid 39 reported E coli infections in 18 states, including 15 hospitalizations and one death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The majority of infections are in New York, Minnesota, Washington, California and Oregon, the Associated Press reports.

Grimmway Farms said its carrot products may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, or E. coli, a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

Recalled Grimmway Farms products include organic whole carrots that were on sale in stores from August 14 through October 23, 2024, as well as organic baby carrots with a best-before date between September 11 and November 12, 2024.

The carrots, which were shipped directly to distribution centers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, were sold under a variety of labels, including 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Nature’s Promise, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans and O Organics.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, E coli infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and neurological 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.

The Grimmway Farms recall comes amid the E coli outbreak at McDonald’s, which has infected at least 104 people — and hospitalized at least 34. The outbreak, linked to onions served on Quarter Pounders, has been detected in 14 states.

McDonalds has said it is investing $100 million to “accelerate recovery and support the hardest-hit franchisees” following the outbreak, CBS reported Saturday.

“A total of $65 million will be invested in supporting franchisees who have lost sales, targeting those in the states most affected,” McDonalds added.