A deadly E. coli outbreak and a carrot recall involving Publix, Walmart, Kroger and others
Whole and baby carrots, many sold under the store brands of the nation’s largest grocery sellers, have been recalled because they might be involved in an E. coli outbreak that already has killed one person.
Grimmway Farms, which made and packaged the organic carrots, stated the above in Saturday’s recall announcement that was on the company site and the FDA site.
A list of the stores involved across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico include Walmart, the Kroger stores, Albertsons stores, Publix, Target, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Canadian chains Loblaws and Compliments.
“State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick,” the FDA said Sunday. “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.”
Here’s what you need to know.
What carrots have been recalled?
According to the announcement, the recall didn’t pull carrots off the shelves, as they “should no longer be in grocery stores, but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.”
Organic baby carrots with best by dates from Sept. 11 through Nov. 12 and organic whole carrots that have no best by date but were sold from Aug. 14 through Oct. 24 have been recalled.
While there are a starting dates on the range of best by dates, they’re all in September. Any baby carrots with earlier best by dates should be thrown into the garbage just on age.
The following list is by the name brand or the store brand’s chain.
Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, others: O Organics whole carrots in 1, 2, 5, or 10-pound bags and baby carrots in 12-ounce, 1 or 2-pound bags, best by dates before Nov. 2.
Bunny Luv: whole carrots in 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, or 50-pound bags and baby carrots in 1, 2, 3 or 5-pound bags, best by dates before Nov. 12.
Cal-Organic: whole carrots in 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 15, 25, 50-pound bags and baby carrots in 12-ounce, 1 or 2-pound bags and two packs of 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 2.
Compliments: whole carrots in 2-pound bags and baby carrots in 1-pound bags with best by dates before Oct. 24.
Full Circle: whole carrots in 1, 2 or 5-pound bags and baby carrots in 1-pound bags with best by dates before Oct. 24.
Grimmway Farms: baby carrots in 25-pound bags, best by dates before Oct. 3.
Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Giant: Nature’s Promise whole carrots in 1 or 5-pound bags and baby carrots in 1-pound bags with best by dates before Oct. 25.
Kroger, Ralphs and other Kroger-owned stores: Simple Truth whole carrots in 1, 2 or 5-pound bags and baby carrots in 1 or 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 2.
Loblaws: President’s Choice whole carrots in 2-pound bags and baby carrots in 12-ounce, 1 or 2-pound bags and two packs of 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 2.
Publix: Greenwise whole carrots in 1 or 25-pound bags and and baby carrots in 1-pound bags with best by dates before Oct. 26.
Raley’s: baby carrots in 1-pound bags with best by dates before Oct. 23.
ShopRite: Wholesome Pantry whole carrots in 1, 2 or 5-pound bags and 1 or 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 7.
Sprouts: baby carrots in 1 or 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 4.
Target: Good & Gather whole carrots in 1 and 2-pound bags and and baby carrots in 1 or 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 2.
Trader Joe’s: whole carrots in 1-pound bags and baby carrots in 1-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 4.
Walmart: Marketside whole carrots in 2-pound bags and baby carrots in 12-ounce, 1 or 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 2. As is Walmart customarily does with recalls, it posted a list of stores and Sam’s Club locations that received the carrots
Wegmans: whole carrots in 1, 2 or 5-pound bags and baby carrots in 12-ounce, 1 or 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 2.
Whole Foods Market: The 365 brand’s whole carrots in 1, 2 or 5-pound bags and baby carrots in 12-ounce, 1 or 2-pound bags with best by dates before Nov. 2.
What kind of E. coli might be associated with the carrots?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday the carrots might be linked to an outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 that’s already accounted for known infections of 39 people, 15 of which were hospitalized and one who has died.
That form of E. coli is one of the Shiga-toxin forms, meaning its more likely to cause hemolitic uremic syndrome or HUS, a form of kidney failure that can turn E. coli into a fatal infection.
As a Shiga-toxin form of E. coli, the symptoms are vomiting, severe stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea three or four days after infection. Most people recover in a week without any medical attention. Signs of HUS are decreased or eliminated urination; blood in the urine; cheeks and inner lower eyelids becoming much lighter; bruises or red spots on the skin that have no explanation.
The number of people sickened stretches across 18 states, with Washington having the most, eight, and Minnesota and New York each having the second most, five. California and Oregon each have three. South Carolina and New Jersey have two. Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Virginian and Wyoming have one, each.
What you should do now
Any recalled carrots should be thrown away or returned to the store for a refund. Clean and sanitize any surface they touched.
Direct questions to Grimmway Farms, 800-301-3101, Sunday, Nov. 17 and Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time or go to the company website hyperlinked above.
Correction: An earlier version of this story included a major chain that gets its store brand of carrots from a different supplier than Grimmway Farms.
This story was originally published November 17, 2024 at 7:29 AM with the headline "A deadly E. coli outbreak and a carrot recall involving Publix, Walmart, Kroger and others."
