See products, map of E. coli cases

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More than a dozen brands of bags of organic whole and baby carrots have been recalled for potential E. coli contamination.

California-based Grimmway Farms is at the center of ongoing recallissued Saturday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which said the outbreak has affected 18 states across the country.

The carrots should “no longer be in grocery stores, but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers,” the company said.

As of Monday, 39 cases have been identified, with 15 hospitalizations and one death among the cases identified so far. according to figures from the CDC.

“We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously,” Grimmway Farms President and CEO Jeff Huckaby said in a press release. “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.”

Here’s what you need to know about the recall.

Which Grimmway Farms products are affected?

Grimmway Farms organic carrots are from several brands sold in various stores across the country. Although they are probably no longer sold in stores, they can still be found in people’s refrigerators.

Here is a list of the recalled organic whole carrots that were sold between August 14 and October 23 and do not have a best-by date:

Here is a list of recalled cut and peeled organic baby carrots with bag sizes and best-if-used-by dates:

What to do with recalled products?

In its press release, the CDC writes: is advising people not to eat the carrots affected by the recall. The agency also encourages customers to check their refrigerators and throw away products affected by the recall.

For other items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled carrots, the CDC says they should be washed with warm, soapy water or a dishwasher.

Where are E. coli cases in the US?

What is Grimmway Farms?

Grimmway Farms was started in the 1960s by the Brothers Grimm, according to the company’s website, who opened a roadside produce stand in Anaheim, Calif., and sold corn to the local community.

In 1969, Rod and Bob Grimm incorporated their partnership and began doing business as Grimmway Farms. In 1990, the baby carrot’s popularity disrupted the produce industry and became trendy for consumers who wanted value-added vegetables and healthy snacking, according to the manufacturer. From 1991-2001, Grimmway Farms acquired several brands to expand its carrot and produce empire.

The company has previously issued recalls, most recently in 2021, where select carrot products may have been contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses were reported during this recall, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

“The recall was initiated as a result of a routine internal company test,” Huckaby said in July 2021. “The health of our customers and the integrity of our products are our highest priorities, and we will continue to monitor and communicate as additional information becomes available .”

Contributor: Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trendy news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him at X @fern_cerv_.