Organic Carrots Sold at Trader Joe’s, Target and Other Stores Recalled After E. Coli Outbreak

Skip the lunch box baby carrots this week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on November 17 that Grimmway Farms has initiated a recall of its organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that the carrots are likely associated with a deadly E. coli outbreak.

What caused the E. coli outbreak?

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with local public health officials, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections. The outbreak is linked to organic carrots from Grimmway Farms of Bakersfield, California.

To date, the CDC reports 39 illnesses and one death associated with this outbreak. To pinpoint the cause of the outbreak, public health officials interviewed sick people about what foods they ate in the week prior. Of the 27 people interviewed, 26 of them reported eating carrots.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Most people infected with E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms usually start three to four days after eating contaminated food. This illness can be serious for children under 5, adults older than 65 and people with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.

What carrots have been recalled?

The carrots were sold across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada at Trader Joe’s, Target, Whole Foods, Wegmans and other retailers. Products are likely no longer in stores but may be in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer.

Organic whole carrots

The recalled whole carrots do not have a best-if-used-by date printed on the bag but were available for purchase from August 14 through October 23, 2024.

Baby carrots

Bags of organic baby carrots have best-if-used-by-dates ranging from September 11 through November 12, 2024.

What should I do next?

The priority is to keep yourself and your family safe from E. coli. If you have any of the products mentioned above, throw them out immediately. Depending on how you store carrots, you may no longer have the packaging. If that’s the case, and you recall purchasing any of the brands listed above, toss the carrots to be safe.

The CDC recommends washing items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled organic carrots using hot soapy water or a dishwasher. If you have symptoms of an E. coli infection, contact your health care provider.