()— The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a outbreak of E.coli in at least 18 states linked to some organic carrots, which has caused at least one death.
At least 39 cases of E.coli have been linked to carrots since early September, leading to 15 hospitalizations and one death, according to the CDC.
The reported cases of E.coli are linked to multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic baby and whole carrots recalled Saturday by Grimmway Farms, a carrot producer based in Bakersfield, California.
The recalled carrots are probably no longer sold in stores, but they may still be in people’s homes, Grimmway Farms warned. People who have recalled carrots should throw them away or return them to the store and clean any surfaces they touched, the CDC advised.
The circulation outlet includes organic baby carrots with best before dates ranging from September 11 to November 12 and whole organic carrots available in stores from approximately August 14 to October 23.
The products were sold under multiple brand names, including Grimmway Farms, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Good & Gather and more, according to the recall notice.
Reported illnesses may not capture the full extent of the outbreak, because it can take up to four weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak, and many infected people recover without medical care and are never actually tested for E.coliaccording to the CDC.
Most people infected with E.coli Shiga toxin-producing strain, the strain linked to the recalled carrots, typically begin experiencing symptoms about 3 to 4 days after consuming the bacteria and recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days, according to the agency.
Children under age 5, adults age 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of infection, the CDC says.
Clients should call a healthcare provider if they develop severe symptoms of E.coliincluding diarrhea, fever, vomiting and dizziness, the agency advises.
Grimmway Farms says its food safety team is now working with suppliers and health authorities to respond to the outbreak.
“We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously,” Grimmway Farms President and CEO Jeff Huckaby said in a statement. “The health of our customers and the integrity of our products are our top priorities, and we are conducting a comprehensive review of our growing, harvesting and processing practices.”
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