Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California, has issued a voluntary recall of select whole carrots and organic baby carrots due to potential contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, a bacterium that can cause severe illness in certain populations. One national food poisoning law firm has prepared the first e. coli lawsuit in the outbreak.
And now, the nation’s first Carrot E. Coli Lawsuit has been filed by the E. coli Lawyers at Ron Simon & Associates.
Background
A nationwide investigation is underway as federal and state health authorities examine an outbreak of E. coli O121:H9 infections connected to organic carrots from Grimmway Farms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are leading the investigation, working closely with state and local health partners to track the spread of infections.
Health officials have conducted interviews with those affected by the outbreak, focusing on their food consumption in the days leading up to their illness. Out of 27 people interviewed, 26 confirmed eating carrots during the period in question.
Through traceback investigation, FDA officials have determined that Grimmway Farms is the same source of both the organic whole carrots and baby carrots linked to these infections.
- To date, there have been 39 reported cases of illness across 18 states
- 15 of those individuals have been hospitalized
- One death has been reported
- The last illness onset reported was October 28, 2024
Location of Affected Individuals
- Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts – 1 to 2 sick people
- Oregon, California – 3 to 4 sick people
- Washington, Minnesota, New York – 5 to 8 sick people
Distribution
The affected products were sent to retail distributors in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Product Details
| Organic Whole Carrots | |||
| Brand | Bag Sizes | On Sale Dates | Best by Date |
| 365 | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb | August 14, 2024 to October 23, 2024 | None |
| Bunny Luv | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb, 10lb, 25lb | ||
| Cal-Organic | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb, 6lb, 10lb, 25lb | ||
| Compliments | 2lb | ||
| Full Circle | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb | ||
| Good & Gather | 2lb | ||
| GreenWise | 1lb, 25lbs | ||
| Marketside | 2lb | ||
| Nature’s Promise | 1lb, 5lb | ||
| O-Organics | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb, 10lb | ||
| President’s Choice | 2lb | ||
| Simple Truth | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb | ||
| Trader Joe’s | 1lb | ||
| Wegmans | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb | ||
| Wholesome Pantry | 1lb, 2lb, 5lb | ||
| Organic Baby Cut and Peeled Carrots | |||
| Brand | Bag Sizes | Best by Dates | |
| From | Through | ||
| 365 | 12oz, 1lb, 2lb | SEP 11 24 | NOV 02 24 |
| Bunny Luv | 1lb, 2lb, 3lb, 5lb | SEP 11 24 | NOV 12 24 |
| Cal-Organic | 12oz, 1lb, 2lb, 2pk/2lbs | SEP 11 24 | NOV 02 24 |
| Compliments | 1lb | SEP 14 24 | OCT 24 24 |
| Full Circle | 1lb | SEP 14 24 | OCT 24 24 |
| Good & Gather | 12oz, 1lb | SEP 14 24 | NOV 02 24 |
| GreenWise | 1lb | SEP 11 24 | OCT 26 24 |
| Grimmway Farms | 25 lb bag | SEP 11 24 | OCT 03 24 |
| Marketside | 12oz, 1lb, 2lb | SEP 11 24 | NOV 02 24 |
| Nature’s Promise | 1lb | SEP 13 24 | OCT 25 24 |
| O-Organics | 12oz, 1lb, 2lb | SEP 11 24 | NOV 02 24 |
| President’s Choice | 1lb, 2lb | 11 SEP 24 | 02 NOV 24 |
| Raley’s | 1lb | SEP 14 24 | OCT 23 24 |
| Simple Truth | 1lb, 2lb | SEP 14 24 | NOV 02 24 |
| Sprouts | 1lb, 2lb | SEP 13 24 | NOV 04 24 |
| Trader Joe’s | 1lb | SEP 13 24 | NOV 04 24 |
| Wegmans | 12oz, 1lb, 2lb | SEP 14 24 | NOV 02 24 |
| Wholesome Pantry | 1lb, 2lb | SEP 16 24 | NOV 07 24 |
Consumer Action
The FDA said that it is likely the affected products are no longer available for sale, however they may still be in consumer’s homes.
Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled items.
As with all food recalls, consumers are strongly advised to discontinue use of the affected product even if it looks or smells safe to eat.
Anyone in possession of the recalled products – consumer, distributor, or retailer – is requested to not sell, serve, or distribute them.
Consumers should thoroughly sanitize any surface or utensils that have come into contact with the impacted products.
The recall notice did not state whether or not the products could be returned to the place of purchase so they should be thrown away immediately.
Health Risks
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), E. coli are bacteria and are found inhabiting diverse environments such as soil, water sources, and the digestive systems of humans and animals. They’re also frequently found in various food items.
The majority of E. coli strains are not harmful and play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy gut ecosystem by assisting in breaking down the food, contributing to the production of essential vitamins, and acting as a defense mechanism against more dangerous microorganisms.
However, not all E. coli are benign. Certain strains can cause a range of health issues in humans, including gastrointestinal distress resulting in diarrhea, infections of the urinary tract, respiratory ailments like pneumonia, and even severe systemic infections such as sepsis. Symptoms generally appear two to five days after exposure but can emerge anywhere from one to eight days later. Most people recover within 5-10 days.
Of particular concern, however, is the potential for some patients to develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that can lead to kidney failure, neurological damage, and in extreme cases, death. This risk makes early medical intervention crucial for infected individuals.
Commenting on this article, the national E. coli lawyer who is filing the lawsuit said, “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can be severely dangerous to humans. Any consumer still in possession of any of the recalled items should dispose of them immediately and contact their doctor if experiencing symptoms of E. coli infection.”
