Carrots Sold In RI Recalled For Potential E. Coli Contamination

RHODE ISLAND — Grimmway Farms has issued a recall of select organic whole and baby carrots, because of potential E. coli contamination, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) said Monday.

State health officials said these carrots should no longer be in grocery stores, but may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. They were sold under many brand names, including 365, Marketside, Nature's Promise, Simple Truth, and Trader Joe's. More information about the recalled products is available in the recall notice.

The recalled products were shipped directly to retail distribution centers nationwide, including in Rhode Island. The organic whole carrots did not have a best-if-used-by date printed on the bag, but were available for purchase at retail stores from Aug. 14 through Oct. 23.

RIDOH officials said the organic baby carrots had best-if-used-by-dates ranging from Sept. 11 through Nov. 12.

RIDOH officials said these products may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19. This 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 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 in humans can range from one-to-10 days. The average incubation period is three-to-four days.

As of Monday, 39 illnesses and one death have been associated with an E. coli O121:H19 outbreak. No illnesses have been identified in Rhode Island.

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 call their doctor.

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