Baby carrots contaminated with E. coli recalled; 1 killed, dozens sickened
FILE - organic baby carrots (Photo by: Natasha Breen/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
An E. coli outbreak that has sickened dozens of people and caused one death is tied to bagged, organic baby carrots sold under multiple brand names, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday.
Health officials said 39 people were infected and 15 were hospitalized in 18 states after eating organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California.
The carrots have been recalled. They were sold in bags under multiple brand names including 365, Cal-Organic, Nature's Promise, O-Organics, Trader Joe's, Wegmans, among others.
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The carrots are no longer in stores, but the CDC is warning consumers to not eat recalled bag carrots and to check their refrigerators or freezers and throw away any carrots that fit the description.
The recalled organic baby carrots have best-by dates ranging from Sept. 11 through Nov. 12, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
States with E. coli cases
Most of the infected people live in New York, Minnesota and Washington, followed by California and Oregon, although infections have been reported in states throughout the country, according to the CDC.
Here are all the states that have reported cases from the recalled carrots:
- Washington
- Oregon
- California
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- Texas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Arkansas
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Michigan
- New York
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
Other recent E. coli outbreaks
E. coli breakout traced back to McDonald's
E. coli food poisoning linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including one person who died and 10 who were hospitalized, federal health officials said. Dr. James Rogers, Director of Food Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports, joined LiveNOW from FOX to discuss.
In October, more than 100 McDonald’s customers were sickened and one person was killed by an E. coli outbreak in the U.S. linked to slivered onions.
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In the U.K., one person died in an E. coli outbreak in June linked to lettuce that sickened at least 275 people. Organic walnuts 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 curbing infections caused by E. coli.
E. coli symptoms
Symptoms of E. coli infection usually start three to four days after eating the bacteria. They include:
- severe stomach cramps
- diarrhea, which is often bloody
- vomiting
People with severe symptoms of an E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell the provider what they ate, the CDC said.
E. coli can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.