Carrots Tied To Deadly E. Coli Outbreak, 500K Cars Recalled

One person has died and more than three dozen others have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to organic whole and baby carrots, topping news about recent recalls that may pose a health and safety threat to consumers.

Also, three automakers have issued separate recalls totaling hundreds of thousands of vehicles because of safety defects that may increase the risk of a crash, and a combination natural gas and carbon monoxide detector sold by Lowe’s and Amazon may fail to provide alerts of potentially deadly gases.

This report was compiled from public sources, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as company websites and Patch reporting.

Carrots Linked To Deadly E. Coli Outbreak

One person has died in a multi-state E. coli outbreak traced to multiple brands of bagged organic whole and baby carrots produced by California-based Grimmway Farms, the FDA said. In addition to the California resident who died, 15 people have been hospitalized among the 39 people who have been sickened, according to the CDC.

In a Nov. 16 statement, Grimmway Farms said it was recalling multiple sizes and brands of the carrots because they may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producting E. coli, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people and those with a weakened immune system.

The affected products have been removed from grocery stores but may still be in consumers’ refrigerators, the company said. Specific brands and other information is found on the FDA website.

Natural Gas And Carbon Monoxide Detectors Recalled

New Cosmos USA has recalled about 26,360 of its DeNova Detect brand combination natural gas and carbon monoxide alarms sold on its website, Lowe’s stores nationwide and on Amazon because they may fail to provide alerts of potentially deadly gases, according to a recall notice on the CPSC website.

After providing alerts to the presence of natural gas or carbon monoxide, the recalled alarm can go into sleep mode when the alert lasts less than four minutes, according to the recall notice. During this time, the alarms can fail to detect and alert consumers to a new incidence of natural gas or carbon monoxide, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The affected DeNova Detect units have a model number of DD622NCV, and DeNova Detect, Natural Gas + Carbon Monoxide is printed on the front of the alarm. The model number is on the top side of the alarm, and the serial number is on the right side of the alarm.

The company will replace the alarms at no charge. Consumers should immediately register online for a prepaid shipping package and replacement alarm. Consumers should continue using the recalled alarms until they install the replacement alarms. Once they receive the replacement alarm, consumers should ship the recalled alarm back in the provided prepaid shipping package.

GM Recalls 500K Vehicles Over Transmission Issue

General Motors is recalling about half a million vehicles, including certain 2022-2023 model year Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna cars because of faulty software in the transmission control module, according to the NHTSA. The problem may cause harsh shifting, reduced power, unintended deceleration or rear wheel lockup, or cause the vehicle to move in unintended directions.

The automaker is recalling another 461,839 diesel-engine pickups and SUVs because the transmission control valve may fail, causing the rear wheels to lock up. Affected vehicles include:

• 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
• 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
• 2020-2022 GMC Sierra 1500
• 2020-2022 GMC Sierra 2500
• 2020-2022 GMC Sierra 3500
• 2021 Cadillac Escalade
• 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
• 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2021 GMC Yukon
• 2021 GMC Yukon XL

The automaker said dealers will update the transmission control module software calibration at no charge. Owners should get letters after Dec. 23, or may call GM customer service at 888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 800-462-8782. The number for this recall is N242471620.

200K Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango Vehicles Recalled

Stellantis is recalling more than 200,000 model year 2018-2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles over concerns they are equipped with defective antilock brake systems, according to the NHTSA.

The defect could cause the vehicles’ brake lights not to properly illuminate, disable the ABS and electronic stability control and allow the vehicle operator to start and shift out of park without depressing the brake pedal, possibly causing the vehicle to roll away, the recall notice said.

The affected Grand Cherokees were produced between June 11, 2018, and July 12, 2019, and the affected Durangos were produced between June 12, 2018, and July 12, 2019.

Stellantis said it is currently working on a remedy and expects to notify owners by mail by Dec. 5. Questions may also be directed to the company at 800-853-1403 or to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Hyundai Recalls 145K Vehicles That May Stop Charging, Lose Power

Hyundai is recalling more than 145,000 of its IONIQ and Genesis vehicles over battery charging issues. The integrated charging control unit may become damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can cause a loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash, according to the recall notice on the NHTSA website.

Dealers will inspect and repair the charging control unit and replace its fuse if necessary, and also update the unit’s software at no cost to the owner.

The company said it will begin sending recall notices to owners by Jan. 17. Owners also may contact Hyundai customer service at 855-371-9460 or Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. The affected models are:

• 2022-2024 IONIQ 5
• 2023-2025 IONIQ 6
• 2023-2025 Genesis GV60
• 2023-2025 Genesis GV70
• 2023-2024 Genesis G80

Carrots, Celery Sold In Whole Foods In West Recalled

F&S Fresh Foods of California is recalling Whole Foods Market 15-ounce Organic Carrot Sticks and Whole Foods Market 15-unce Carrots & Celery because they may be contaminated with E. coli, according to the FDA. The product recall is connected to a larger recall by Grimmway Farms.

The products were sold at Whole Foods stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada. No illnesses have been reported as of Friday.

The plastic clamshell packaging is marked with the code of “GH” followed by three digits ranging from 236 and 284. The best-if-sold-by-dates range from Sept. 1 to Oct. 19, but may still be in consumers’ homes, the agency said.

Ground Beef To Restaurants May Have E. Coli

Roughly 167,277 pounds of ground beef packaged at Wolverine Packing Co. in Detroit and distributed to restaurants nationwide has been recalled for potential e. Coli contamination, according to the FSIS.

The contamination was discovered No. 13 after at least 15 people became ill in Minnesota. Those illnesses were linked to samples collected at the Wolverine plant few days later that tested positive for the E. coli bacteria.

Both fresh and frozen ground beef were included in the recall, the former with a use by date of Nov. 12 and the latter with a production date of Oct. 22, 2024. The FSIS is concerned restaurants may still have the recalled beef in their refrigerators and freezers. A full product list and other details are found on the FSIS website.

‘Life-Threatening Error’ On Popular Anxiety Drug

The pharmaceutical company Endo Inc. is expanding its recall of a popular prescription drug used to treat anxiety is subject to a nationwide recall for a “possibly life-threatening” mistake on the packaging, according to the FDA.

The Pennsylvania-based drugmaker said in a statement this week that it is expanding its recall of clonazepam tablets because some cartons bear the incorrect drug strength and wrong drug code due to an error by a third-party packing company.

Endo said the blister strips and tablets inside the product pack reflect the correct strength for the lot, but patients may receive the wrong dosage due to the packaging error. The company has notified wholesale and retail pharmacies of the mistake.

“There is reasonable probability for significant, possibly life-threatening, respiratory depression especially for patients with concomitant pulmonary disease, patients who have prescribed dosing near maximal dosing, and patients also taking other medications that could cause additional respiratory depression,” the company said.

To date, Endo has not received any reports of adverse events associated with this product recall.