Organic carrots suspected of carrying E coli disease withdrawn from markets in U.S.

Srinagar, Nov 18: Dozens of people in the U.S. have fallen sick even as one has been reported to die after an outbreak of E coli in organic carrots being reported from 18 states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) launched an investigation following the incidents.

Since September, at least 39 cases linked to organic and whole baby carrots have been reported. According to CDC, these cases have led to 15 hospitalizations and one death.

The CDC posted on its website, “CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O121 infections linked to multiple brands of recalled organic whole bagged carrots and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms.”

The number of stores affected by the E coli outbreak in carrots are reported to be across the United States, including Puerto Rico, and Canada including Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Publix, Food Lion, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Canadian chains Loblaws and Compliments, The Indian Express reported.

The US Food and Drug Administration said, “State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 27 people interviewed, 26 reported eating carrots. The FDA’s traceback investigation identified Grimmway Farms as the common supplier of organic whole and baby carrots in this outbreak.”

The CDC advised people that carrots on the store shelves present as of now may not be affected but the ones affected might be in people’s homes. The CDC added that people should throw the carrots out or return them to the store if they are in possession of it.

Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California, has recalled the carrots, which included whole and baby organic carrots. Baby organic carrots have best-if-used-by dates ranging from September 11 to November 12 and whole organic carrots available in stores from about August 14 to October 23.

According to the CDC, symptoms of E coli include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.