Grimmway Farms recalls select organic whole carrots and baby carrots due to potential E. Coli contamination

Grimmway Farms has issued a recall of select organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots due to a possible contamination with Shiga toxin, producing Escherichia coli (E. Coli) O121:H19, according to an internal recall notice sent Nov. 16.

E. coli is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and those with a weakened immune system. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea conditions, such as a hemolytic uremic syndrome, or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and neurologic problems. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting. The incubation period for E. coli in humans ranges from 24 hours to as much as ten days. The average incubation period is three to four days. Persons presenting symptoms within the incubation period after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) has publicized this recall to all its stores, according to Richard Stith, supervisory consumer safety officer for DeCA Headquarters and Support Center at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.

The recalled products were shipped directly to retail distribution centers nationwide in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

The following organic whole carrots were available for purchase from Aug. 14 through Oct. 23 with no best if used by date on the bags:

• 365, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds
• Bunny Luv, 1 pound, 2 pounds, 5 pounds, 10 pounds and 25 pounds
• Cal-Organic, 1 pound, 2 pounds, 5 pounds, 6 pounds, 10 pounds and 25 pounds
• Compliments, 2 pounds
• Full Circle, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds
• Good & Gather, 2 pounds
• GreenWise, 1 pound and 25 pounds
• Marketside, 2 pounds
• Nature's Promise, 1 pound and 5 pounds
• O-Organics, 1 pounds, 2 pounds, 5 pounds and 10 pounds
• President's Choice, 2 pounds
• Simple Truth, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds
• Trader Joe's, 1 pound
• Wegmans, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds
• Wholesome Pantry, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds

The following organic baby (cut and peeled) carrots are also affected:

• 365, 12 ounces, 1 pound and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Nov. 2
• Bunny Luv, 1 pound, 2 pounds, 3 pounds and 5 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Nov. 12
• Cal-Organic, 12 ounces, 1 pounds, 2 pounds and two pack 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Nov. 2
• Compliments, 1 pound: best if used by dates of Sept. 14 through Oct. 24
• Full Circle, 1 pound: best if used by dates of Sept. 14 through Oct. 24
• Good & Gather, 12 ounces and 1 pound: best if used by dates of Sept. 14 through Nov. 2
• GreenWise, 1 pound: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Oct. 26
• Grimmway Farms, 25 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Oct. 3
• Marketside, 12 ounces, 1 pound and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Nov. 2
• Nature's Promise, 1 pound: best if used by dates of Sept. 13 through Oct. 25
• O-Organics, 12 ounces, 1 pounds and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Nov. 2
• President's Choice, 1 pound and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 11 through Nov. 2
• Raley's, 1 pound: best if used by dates of Sept. 14 through Oct. 23
• Simple Truth, 1 pound and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 14 through Nov. 2
• Sprouts, 1 pound and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 13 through Nov. 4
• Trader Joe's, 1 pound: best if used by dates of Sept. 13 through Nov. 4
• Wegmans, 12 ounces, 1 pound and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 14 through Nov. 2
• Wholesome Pantry, 1 pound and 2 pounds: best if used by dates of Sept. 16 through Nov. 7

The company is voluntarily recalling these carrots after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that these products may be associated with an outbreak. To date, 39 illnesses and one death have been associated with an E. coli outbreak.

Consumers with questions or products in their possession may contact our customer services desk at 800-301-3101, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time, or visit www.grimmway.com.