Carrot recall nationwide for possible E. coli: What to know

On By Littum

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If you’ve bought raw, organic carrots in the last month or so, check your fridge.

Health officials issued an alert Sunday urging consumers to check their produce for bagged organic carrots recalled due to E. coli contamination.

Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, Calif., voluntarily recalled raw, whole and baby organic carrots sold under several brands distributed to retailers nationwide and linked to the outbreak.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall alert, 39 people have been infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. in 18 states, including Michigan. Fifteen people have been hospitalized with infections and one person has died, says the alarm. There is one confirmed case in Michigan associated with this outbreak, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The number of people sickened by this outbreak is likely higher than reported.

“It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak,” the warning said.

Many people recover without medical attention and are not tested for E. coli, the FDA said.

Although the carrots should no longer be for sale in stores, the concern is that they are still in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

The bagged carrots were available in stores from about August 14 to October 23, according to the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall warning.

Peeled raw carrots have a shelf life of three to four weeks in the refrigerator, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Freshly cut or peeled have a shorter shelf life, about two to three weeks stored in the refrigerator.

If you have the recalled products, you should throw them away.

Whole carrots have no best-if-used-by dates on the bags and were sold under more than a dozen brands, including Kroger’s Simple Truth, Whole Foods 365, Target’s Good & Gather and Trader Joe’s.

Other brands include:

  • Bunny Luv
  • Cal organic
  • Compliments
  • Full circle
  • GreenWise
  • Grimmway Farms
  • Market page
  • Nature’s promise
  • O-organic
  • The President’s election
  • Raley’s
  • Sprouts
  • Wegmans
  • Healthy Pantry

Bags of the organic peeled and sliced ​​baby carrots have best-if-used-by dates from September 11 to November 12 and are sold under the same brands as above.

While there are several strains of E. coli, the strain of bacteria causing this outbreak of infections related to the organic carrots is Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121:H19, according to the recall notice.

Symptoms of E. coli, depending on the strain, (E. coli) according to the CDC include:

  • Diarrhea and fever higher than 102 degrees.
  • Diarrhea for more than 3 days that does not improve
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • So much vomiting that you can’t keep fluids down
  • Watch for signs of dehydration, including: Not urinating much, dry mouth and throat, and dizziness when standing up

Symptoms of E. coli infections usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria, and most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.

The CDC says some people can develop serious kidney problems called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a type of kidney failure.

Who is at increased risk for E. coli?

At increased risk for E. coli infection, according to the CDC, include:

  • Children under 5
  • Adults 65 and older
  • People with weakened immune systems

What consumers should do

  • Do not eat or use the recalled products, throw them away.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that the recalled product may have touched.
  • If you have or have stored whole or small carrots that are not in original packaging and do not know the brand, you should throw them away.

What retailers and distributors should do

  • Retailers and distributors should not sell whole or bagged baby carrots that are likely past their shelf life and no longer available for sale in stores.
  • Distributors and retailers should check their refrigerators and freezers and should not serve or sell recalled whole or baby carrots.

Nearly 48 million people fall ill each year from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die, CDC estimates. Each year, the CDC estimates, about 265,000 illnesses and 100 deaths is caused by E. coli. Recently, an E. coli outbreak was linked to sliced ​​onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers.

This story was updated to correct a typo.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the free press.