Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

4Earth Farms Vegetable Medleys and Whole Organic Carrots recall: Potential Foodborne Illness - Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E

Recall published 1+ years ago

Potential Foodborne Illness - Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19

4Earth Farms Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce4Earth Farms Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 2)4Earth Farms Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 3)4Earth Farms Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 4)
4 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: E. coli contamination

This is an E. coli recall. It takes very few of these bacteria to cause illness, so a small taste is not a safe test.

What the notice says: E. coli O121:H19 is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and those with a weakened immune system.

Why it matters: Shiga toxin-producing E. coli causes a more severe illness than most food poisoning, and in a minority of cases it damages the kidneys. Very small numbers of bacteria are enough to make someone ill.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes symptoms as severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea that is often bloody, and vomiting, typically starting three to four days after exposure. Most people get better within a week. A small proportion — most often young children and older adults — develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a form of kidney failure that needs hospital treatment. Call a doctor for bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, a fever above 102°F, vomiting that prevents you keeping liquids down, or signs of dehydration. The CDC advises against taking anti-diarrhoeal medicine for a suspected E. coli infection unless a doctor tells you to.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
November 26, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
4Earth Farms
Product type
Fresh produce
Distribution
California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania
Sold at
Sprouts Farmers Market, Walmart
UPC codes
711535517733, 681131179461, 681131457378, 681131328791, 681131457460, 803944306999, 803944307064
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to 4Earth Farms to date.

Products covered by this recall

Vegetable Medleys and Whole Organic Carrots

What the company announced

4Earth Farms of Commerce, California, is recalling multiple brands of Organic Vegetable Medley, Conventional Vegetable Medley, and Organic Whole Carrots because it may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19 .

E. coli O121:H19 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 O121:H19 in humans can range from 24 hours to as much as ten days. The average incubation period is 3 to 4 days.

The recall was initiated after 4Earth Farms was notified by Grimmway Farms, Inc. that carrots used in the Vegetable Medleys and Whole Organic Carrots may have been contaminated with E. coli O121:H19 .

No illnesses have been reported to 4Earth Farms to date.

4Earth Farms is voluntarily issuing this recall out of an abundance of caution and based on information received from Grimmway Farms Inc., regarding the possible contamination of its product. All 4Earth Farms items impacted by this announcement have been expired for more than 3 weeks.

The recalled product should no longer be available for purchase but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. If consumers still have recalled products in your home, do not eat or use them, throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched. Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a medical professional.

The Organic and Conventional Vegetable Medleys, and Organic Whole Carrots subject to recall by 4Earth Farms were distributed to the following states: NH, FL, CA, PA, MN, IL, and CO, through both retail stores and distributors.

Product can be identified with Best by dates of September 7, 2024 through November 02, 2024:

  • Item Description: Organic Vegetable Medley12oz UPC 711535517733 · Brand: Wild Harvest · Distributed to: Albert's Organics
  • Item Description: Organic Vegetable Medley 12oz UPC 681131179461 · Brand: Marketside · Distributed to: Walmart
  • Item Description: Vegetable Medley 32oz UPC 681131457378 · Brand: Marketside
  • Item Description: Vegetable Medley 12oz UPC 681131328791 · Brand: Marketside
  • Item Description: Stir Fry Medley 12oz UPC 681131457460 · Brand: Marketside
  • Item Description: Organic Vegetable Medley 12oz UPC 803944306999 · Brand: 4Earth Farms · Distributed to: O.K. Produce
  • Item Description: Organic Vegetable Medley 12oz UPC 711535517733 · Brand: Wild Harvest · Distributed to: UNFI
  • Item Description: Organic Whole Carrots 1lb · Brand: Grimmway · Distributed to: Kennedy Produce
  • Item Description: Vegetable Medley 12oz UPC 803944307064 · Brand: 4Earth Farms · Distributed to: Sprouts Farmers Market

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who may still have product with Best by dates of September 7, 2024 through November 02, 2024 are urged to discard the product. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 855.918.1706, Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm PT.

Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O121:H19: Organic Carrots (November 2024) | FDA

CDC Webpage

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 13 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 711535517733
  • 681131179461
  • 681131457378
  • 681131328791
  • 681131457460
  • 803944306999
  • 803944307064

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • September 7, 2024
  • November 02
  • 20

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 12 oz
  • 32 oz
  • 1 lb

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about E. coli

4Earth Farms — This is an E. coli recall. It takes very few of these bacteria to cause illness, so a small taste is not a safe test.

  1. Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.
  2. If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, call a doctor the same day and say the word recall. Do not reach for an anti-diarrhoeal first.
  3. Keep an eye on young children for a week after exposure, including after the diarrhoea stops, because kidney complications appear late.
  4. Seal it in a bag and throw it out, or return it to the store for a refund.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who may still have product with Best by dates of September 7, 2024 through November 02, 2024 are urged to discard the product.

Company contact: 4Earth Farms — Consumers: 855.918.1706

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was 4Earth Farms fresh produce recalled?

Potential Foodborne Illness - Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19 E. coli O121:H19 is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and those with a weakened immune system.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 711535517733, 681131179461, 681131457378; best-by date September 7, 2024 or November 02. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who may still have product with Best by dates of September 7, 2024 through November 02, 2024 are urged to discard the product.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania.

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