Grimmway Farms said in a news release that some of its organic whole and baby carrots sold at many grocery store chains, including Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Target, may have been contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
The carrot producer, headquartered in Bakersfield, California, voluntarily recalled the carrots after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that they may be associated with an outbreak. So far, there have been 39 cases, 15 hospitalizations and one death across 18 states, according to the CDC.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which most severely affects children under 5 years old and the elderly, can cause bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting, according to the CDC. In rare cases, it can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure and even death.
E. coli usually spreads through animal or human feces and can then contaminate food and water.
Grimmway Farms shipped the recalled carrots to distribution centers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and sold them under multiple labels, including Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Bunny-luv, Nature’s Promise, Simple Truth, Good & Gather and 365. Grimmway Farms has shared pictures of all the affected labels.
The whole carrots that were recalled were sold in stores from Aug. 14 through Oct. 23, while the baby carrots have best-by dates ranging from Sept. 11 to Nov. 12, 2024, Grimmway Farms said.
While the recalled carrots are no longer on store shelves, Grimmway Farms warned customers who may still have them in their fridges to throw them away.
“We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously,” President and CEO Jeff Huckaby said in a statement. “The health of our customers and the integrity of our products are our highest priorities, and we are conducting a thorough review of our growing, harvest, and processing practices.”
An E. coli outbreak reported last month is thought to be linked to slivered onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. At least 104 people have been sickened in that outbreak across 14 states, and one has died.
