Expanded E. Coli Contamination in Carrots
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a nationwide recall of various carrot products due to an outbreak of the harmful E. coli strain, O121:H19. As of November 22, at least 39 people have fallen ill from this outbreak, with 15 hospitalizations and 1 unfortunate death reported.
The outbreak has been traced back to organic carrots sourced from Grimmway Farms, which has recalled dozens of its whole and baby carrot products, sold under various brand names. In addition, Fabalish Inc and F&S Fresh Foods have also recalled several products that may contain tainted carrots supplied by Grimmway.
The recalled products include Whole Foods Market 15 oz. Organic Carrot Sticks and Whole Foods Market 15 oz. Organic Carrots & Celery, along with other items. The exact supplemented bag sizes for the products recalled by Grimmway Farms, which were also recalled by Fabalish Inc and F&S Fresh Foods, are 2-pound and 3-pound bags.
The FDA warns against consuming or using any recalled carrots, even if the original packaging is missing. They advise consumers to check their homes for recalled carrots and discard them if found. The list of recalled products can be found online.
Health officials believe that many more people have been sickened than reported, as most people who catch foodborne diseases do not seek medical attention. The E. coli strain behind this outbreak produces toxins that raise the risk of severe, life-threatening complications like hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).
It's important to note that this carrot outbreak is unrelated to the previous E. coli outbreak caused by contaminated onions used in McDonald's Quarter Pounders. The risk to carrot-buying customers today is likely minimal as any tainted products are likely no longer being sold in stores. However, the risk of further E. coli cases is real due to the long shelf life of raw carrots, up to a month.
The FDA urges consumers to exercise caution and follow the recall guidelines to ensure their safety. The agency will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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