Carrot Recall After E. Coli Outbreak: Which Brands, States?

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If you optimistically bought a bag of Trader Joe’s baby carrots recently, thinking you’d eat them all before you forget them in your fridge, it’s time to throw them away. Not because they’re probably disgustingly wet by now (which is also true), but because they could be linked to an E. coli outbreak.

Grimmway Farms has recalled some of his organic carrotswhich were sold at grocery chains including Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Target. The recall affects both baby carrots and whole carrots. According to CDCthere have been 39 reported cases of E. coli so far in 18 states with 15 hospitalizations and one death. The CDC also has information on the brands of carrots affected, as well as the best-if-used-by date of the contaminated carrots.

E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting and is especially dangerous for children under 5 and older. In severe cases, it can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in kidney failure and, in the worst case, death.

This is the second major E. coli-related recall in as many months. In October, an outbreak of the bacteria was traced back to chopped onions on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with more than 100 people falling ill. Hmmm, it all seems pretty bad. The only way things were likely to get worse was if an unhinged conspiracy theorist was about to take the reins at Health and Human Services.