CDC warns of new E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots

CDC has posted a Food Safety Alert regarding a multi-state outbreak linked to organic carrots: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O121.html

Key Points:

• Thirty-nine people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 18 states. Fifteen people have been hospitalized and one person has died.
• Interviews with sick people and traceback findings show that organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms are making people sick.
• Grimmway Farms recalled the implicated carrots. Multiple brands and sizes of bagged organic whole and baby carrots were recalled.
• These products are no longer for sale at stores but may still be people's homes. Check your refrigerators and throw them away.

What You Should Do:

• Do not eat any recalled bagged organic carrots.
• If you have severe symptoms of E. coli infection, seek health care, and tell your provider about what you ate.
• Businesses should not use recalled bagged organic carrots.

E. coli Symptoms:

• Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
  • Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
  • Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
• Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
• For more information about E. coli, see: About Escherichia coli Infection.

If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state's health department.

Thank you,
CDC Media Support Branch
404-639-3286
media@cdc.gov