Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Grimmway Farms Organic whole 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

The hazard: E. coli contamination

E. coli O157 and its relatives are what this recall is about. The infection is more severe than ordinary food poisoning and can affect the kidneys in children.

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 21, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Grimmway Farms
Product type
Fresh produce

Products covered by this recall

Organic whole carrots

What the company announced

Grimmway Farms announced the addition of four bag sizes of organic whole carrots to its November 16, 2024, recall. All dates associated with the recall remain unchanged.

These products may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19 . For more information on E. coli 0121:H19 and to read the initial recall notice, please visit Grimmway’s website .

“As a part of our ongoing review of internal processes associated with the voluntary recall, we determined that four bag sizes needed to be added to our initial recall announcement,” said Jeff Huckaby, President & CEO of Grimmway Farms. “We then began the process to notify the FDA and update the consumer. The health of our consumers and the integrity of our products are our highest priorities, and we will not rest until this issue is fully resolved.”

Retailers who received the affected product were appropriately notified of all correct bag sizes when the company initiated the recall on November 16.

The recalled carrots should not be available for purchase in stores but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. The table below shows the additional bag sizes in bold and underlined font.

  • Grimmway Farms Firm-Initiated Recall The bag sizes underlined and bolded below reflect additions to the existing November 16, 2024 voluntary recall: Organic WHOLE Carrots available for purchase at retail from August 14 through October 23, 2024
  • Grimmway Farms Firm-Initiated Recall The bag sizes underlined and bolded below reflect additions to the existing November 16, 2024 voluntary recall: Label · Bag Sizes · These organic whole carrots were available for purchase at retail stores from August 14 through October 23, 2024. No best-if-used-by-dates are on the bags of organic whole carrots.
  • Grimmway Farms Firm-Initiated Recall The bag sizes underlined and bolded below reflect additions to the existing November 16, 2024 voluntary recall: Bunny Luv · 1lb, 2lb, 5lb, 10lb, 25lb, 50lb
  • Grimmway Farms Firm-Initiated Recall The bag sizes underlined and bolded below reflect additions to the existing November 16, 2024 voluntary recall: Cal-Organic · 1lb, 2lb, 5lb, 6lb, 10lb, 15lb , 25lb, 50lb
  • Grimmway Farms Firm-Initiated Recall The bag sizes underlined and bolded below reflect additions to the existing November 16, 2024 voluntary recall: Good & Gather · 1lb , 2lb

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.

Consumers : The recalled carrots should no longer be available for purchase but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who purchased carrots specified in the original recall notice (and in the table above) who still have them in their refrigerator or freezer should not consume them; the carrots should be destroyed or discarded so they cannot be consumed. If you have these 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.

“We would also like to apologize to consumers who have been unable to reach our company due to technical issues and high call volume,” stated Huckaby. “We have been working around the clock with our third-party vendors to address these challenges and have made a direct telephone number available to consumers (1-866- 912-9552).”

Consumers with questions or products in their possession may contact our customer services desk at 1-866-912- 9552, Sun-Sat, 8 am – 8 pm ET or visit www.grimmway.com .

Original Press Release

FDA Advisory

CDC Advisory

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

Package size

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

  • 1 lb
  • 2 lb
  • 5 lb
  • 10 lb
  • 25 lb
  • 50 lb
  • 6 lb
  • 15 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

Grimmway Farms — E. coli O157 and its relatives are what this recall is about. The infection is more severe than ordinary food poisoning and can affect the kidneys in children.

  1. Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.
  2. Wash hands, utensils, boards and counters that touched it with hot soapy water — cross-contamination is how most secondary cases happen.
  3. If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, call a doctor the same day and say the word recall. Do not reach for an anti-diarrhoeal first.
  4. Keep an eye on young children for a week after exposure, including after the diarrhoea stops, because kidney complications appear late.

Refunds, and what else you can claim

The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.

  • Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
  • If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
  • Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
  • Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.

Company contact: Grimmway Farms — Consumers: Customer Services Desk, 866-912-9552 — Media: Dana Brennan, [email protected]

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 Grimmway 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?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it now and keep it away from children.

Can I get my money back?

Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.

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