The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an E. coli outbreak in at least 18 states linked to some organic carrots, which has led to at least one death.
Since early September, at least 39 cases of E. coli have been linked to the carrots, leading to 15 hospitalizations and one death, according to the CDC.
The reported cases of E. coli are associated with multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic baby and whole carrots recalled Saturday by Grimmway Farms, a carrot manufacturer headquartered in Bakersfield, California.
The recalled carrots are likely no longer sold in stores, but 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 the surfaces they touched, the CDC advised.
The recall includes organic baby carrots with expiration dates ranging from September 11 to November 12, and whole organic carrots available in stores from approximately August 14 to October 23.
According to the recall, the products were sold under multiple brand names, including Grimmway Farms, Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Wegmans, Good & Gather and more.
The reported illnesses may not capture the full extent of the outbreak because it can take up to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak, and many infected people recover without medical care and are never actually tested for E. coli . , according to the CDC.
Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the strain linked to the recalled carrots, usually start experiencing symptoms about three to four days after consuming the bacteria and recover without treatment in five to seven days, according to the desk.
Children under age 5, adults age 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk for infection, the CDC says.
Customers should call a health care provider if they develop severe E. coli symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, vomiting and dizziness, the agency advises.
Grimmway Farms says its food and 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,” said Jeff Huckaby, president and CEO of Grimmway Farms, in a statement. “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.”
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