18.11.2024 10:50
Dozens of people fell ill and one person died after eating E. coli contaminated carrots in the U.S. While the carrots were being recalled from stores, buyers were also warned to dispose of them.
A new E. coli outbreak that originated in the U.S. has infected dozens of people who ate packaged organic carrots, and one person has died from the infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Sunday that a total of 39 people have been infected across 18 states after eating organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms, with 15 individuals hospitalized.
Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California, has recalled carrots that include whole and baby organic carrots sold under various brand names such as 365, Cal-Organic, Nature's Promise, O-Organics, Trader Joe's, and Wegmans.
The carrots are no longer for sale, but the CDC is warning consumers not to eat the recalled bagged carrots and to check their refrigerators or freezers to discard any carrots that match this description. According to the CDC, most of the infected individuals live in New York, Minnesota, and Washington, followed by California and Oregon, but infections have also been reported in states across the country.
E. COLI OUTBREAK SPREADS
Numerous E. coli outbreaks have occurred in recent months. In October, more than 100 McDonald's customers in the U.S. fell ill due to an E. coli outbreak linked to chopped onions. In June, an E. coli outbreak associated with lettuce in the UK made at least 275 people sick, resulting in one death. Organic walnuts sickened consumers with E. coli in 19 states in April.
Despite the recent outbreaks, experts say that while there has not been much progress in preventing infections caused by E. coli, the food supply is generally safe.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the expiration dates for the recalled organic baby carrots range from September 11 to November 12.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection typically begin three to four days after consuming the bacteria and include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting. The CDC stated that individuals showing severe symptoms of an E. coli infection should seek medical help and inform their doctors about what they have eaten.
According to the FDA, E. coli bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.