Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Whole Foods Market Organic Carrots & Celery 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

Whole Foods Market Fresh produce — recalled fresh produceWhole Foods Market Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 2)Whole Foods Market Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 3)Whole Foods Market 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 20, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Whole Foods Market
Product type
Fresh produce
Distribution
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada
Sold at
Whole Foods
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to F&S Fresh Foods to date.

Products covered by this recall

Organic Carrots & Celery

What the company announced

F&S Fresh Foods, Sacramento, CA is recalling Whole Foods Market 15 oz. Organic Carrot Sticks and Whole Foods Market 15 oz. Organic Carrots & Celery that should no longer be in stores but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. The recall was initiated after F&S Fresh Foods was notified by Grimmway Farms that whole organic carrots supplied to F&S Fresh Foods may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) O121:H19 . (Link to Grimmway Farms’ press release on the FDA website can be found HERE .)

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.

These products were sold at Whole Foods Market stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, and Nevada.

The containers are plastic clamshells as pictured below. Coding information will include the letters “GH” followed by three digits ranging from 236 – 284. Best if sold by dates range from 9/1/24 to 10/19/24.

No illnesses have been reported to F&S Fresh Foods to date.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recalled carrots should no longer be available for purchase but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who purchased carrots with the above best if sold by dates and still have them in their refrigerator or freezer should not consume them; they 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 may have touched. Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a medical professional.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (888)449-9386, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PT, Monday through Friday.

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 1 code 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.

  • 15 oz

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

Whole Foods Market — 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.

Company contact: F&S Fresh Foods — Consumers: Customer Service, 888-449-9386 — Media: Colin Turner, 856-319-4001

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 Whole Foods Market 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?

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.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada.

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