Carrots sold at Trader Joe’s, Wegmans and other chains recalled due to E. coli risk

If you’ve recently bought organic carrots, it might be time to check your fridge.

Grimmway Farms said in a news release that some of its organic whole and baby carrots sold at many grocery chains, including Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Target, may have been contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

The carrot producer, headquartered in Bakersfield, Calif., voluntarily recalled the carrots after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined they may be linked to an outbreak. So far, there have been 39 cases, 15 hospitalizations and one death in 18 states, According to the CDC.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which hits children under 5 and older the hardest, 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 is usually spread through animal or human feces and can then contaminate food and water.

Grimmway Farms shipped the recalled carrots to distribution centers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and sold them under several brands, including Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Bunny-luv, Nature’s Promise, Simple Truth, Good & Gather and 365. Grimmway Farms shared images of all of them affected labels.

The recalled whole carrots were sold in stores from Aug. 14 to Oct. 23, while the baby carrots have a shelf life of 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 refrigerators 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, harvesting and processing practices.”

An E. coli outbreak reported last month is believed to be linked to sliced ​​onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. At least 104 people have been sickened in this outbreak in 14 states and one has died.