GA Mom Sickened With E. Coli Sues Carrot Producer In Outbreak: Report

SAVANNAH, GA — A Georgia woman who claims to be sickened by Grimmway Farms carrots during an E. coli outbreak that has impacted multiple states is suing the California-based producer, per media reports.

Grimmway Farms on Saturday recalled at least a dozen organic whole-bagged and baby carrot brands sold at prominent grocery stores due to potential E. Coli contamination. The whole carrots were sold between Aug. 14 and Sept. 23 and do not have printed expiration dates.

Melinda Pratt, 40, a Savannah mother, claimed in the lawsuit she experienced stomach pains, vomiting and bloody diarrhea after consuming whole Bunny Luv carrots purchased from Sam's Club, according to NBC News. The lawsuit against Grimmway was filed Monday, per reports.

Bunny Luv is one of the affected products listed in the voluntary recall. Other impacted key brands include Good and Gather, GreenWise, Marketside, 365, Trader Joe's and Simple Truth.

About two weeks after eating the carrots, Pratt spent three days in the hospital due to the E. Coli infection, per NBC News. No one else in Pratt's home ate the carrots.

“I genuinely thought at some point that I was slowly dying,” Pratt said in the NBC News report.

At the time of the recall, 39 people were sickened and one person died due to the outbreak, Grimmway said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added 18 states have been affected by the recall, 15 hospitalizations have occurred.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it is investigating the outbreak.

The symptoms of E. Coli infection are severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting.

These are the affected carrot products in the recall:

• 365 - 1, 2 and 5 pounds
• Bunny Luv - 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 pounds
• Cal-Organic - 1, 2, 5, 6, 10 and 25 pounds
• Compliments - 2 pounds
• Full Circle - 1, 2 and 5 pounds
• Good & Gather - 2 pounds
• GreenWise - 1 and 25 pounds
• Marketside - 2 pounds
• Nature's Promise - 1 and 5 pounds
• O-Organics - 1, 2, 5 and 10 pounds
• President's Choice - 2 pounds
• Simple Truth - 1, 2 and 5 pounds
• Trader Joe's - 1 pounds
• Wegmans - 1lb, 2lb and 5lb
• Wholesome Pantry - 1, 2 and 5 pounds

For bags of organic baby carrots, the best-if-used-by date ranged from Sept. 11-Nov. 12.

Brands selling these carrots included 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good and Gather, GreenWise, Grimmway Farms, Marketside, Nature's Promise, O-Organics, President's Choice, Raley's, Simple Truth, Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Wegmans and Wholesome Pantry.

Illnesses have also been reported in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, California, Oregon, and Washington.

Consumers with questions or products in their possession may contact the company's customer services desk at 1-800-301-3101, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, or visit www.grimmway.com.