Grimmway Farms carrot recall: See list of impacted products

E. coli: How it spreads, symptoms and how to prevent illness

Some strains of E. coli, a bacteria that live in the intestines of people and animals, can be particularly dangerous to infants, young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

A multi-state E. coli outbreak has been linked to multiple brands of recalled organic whole carrots and baby carrots sold in local Wegmans and Trade Joe's stores.

The outbreak has sickened dozens of people nationwide and caused at least one death, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Carrots on store shelves right now "are likely not affected but may be in people's homes," the CDC warned.

"If you have any recalled carrots in your home, throw them out or return them to the store," the agency said.

Grimmway Farms carrot recall: What to know

The carrots were recalled via an announcement on Nov. 16. They were sold in bags under multiple brands, including 365, Cal-Organic, Nature's Promise, O-Organics, Trader Joe's, Wegmans, among others.

Public health officials said at least 39 people were infected and 15 were hospitalized across 18 states after eating organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California.

E. coli O121 infections linked to the recalled carrots have been reported in Washington, Oregon, California, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

Symptoms of E. coli infection usually start three to four days after eating the bacteria. They include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and 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.

Carrot recall: List of brands affected

Organic whole carrots:

All the organic whole carrots were available for purchase at retail stores between Aug. 14 and Oct. 23, 2024, officials said. No best-if-used-by-dates were printed on the bags of organic whole carrots.