What We Know About the Grimmway Organic Carrots E. coli Outbreak
CDC and FDA linked 48 E. coli O121:H19 illnesses, 20 hospitalizations, 1 death, and 1 case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) across 19 states to organic whole and baby carrots grown by Grimmway Farms of Bakersfield, California. Illnesses started between September 6 and November 10, 2024, and CDC declared the outbreak over on December 18, 2024.
The Recall Covered 20 Labels
Grimmway Farms voluntarily recalled bagged organic whole and baby carrots on November 16, 2024, and added more whole-carrot bag sizes on November 21. The whole carrots have no best-if-used-by date and were sold from August 14 to October 23, 2024. The baby carrots carry best-if-used-by dates from September 11 to November 12, 2024.
FDA lists 20 labels, each shown with its bag sizes and dates in the recalled products list. Grimmway Farms (25 lb bag), Kroger, LIDL, Raley’s, and Sprouts were recalled for baby carrots only. The carrots went to retail distribution centers across the United States and Puerto Rico, and to customers in Canada, Colombia, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
4Earth Farms (organic and conventional vegetable medleys and organic whole carrots), Fabalish Inc. (Kickin’ Carrot Falafel Bites), and Whole Foods Market (Organic Carrot Sticks and Organic Carrots & Celery Sticks) also recalled products made with Grimmway carrots. FDA says these are past shelf life, but check your freezer and don’t eat any recalled carrots.
Shiga Toxin and HUS
E. coli O121:H19 is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Like the better-known O157:H7 strain, it can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), where the toxin damages blood vessels and kidneys. HUS can require dialysis and cause permanent kidney damage. Children under 5 face the highest risk.
How Investigators Linked the Carrots
Whole genome sequencing showed that bacteria from sick people were closely related, which suggests they got sick from the same food. Of the 37 sick people interviewed, 33 (89%) said they ate carrots in the week before they got sick. They bought different brands at different stores, and FDA’s traceback found Grimmway Farms was the common supplier.
FDA inspected Grimmway Farms. Two environmental samples taken outside tested positive for other STEC strains, but neither matched the outbreak strain, and the outbreak strain wasn’t found in any environmental sample. CDC and FDA concluded that epidemiologic and traceback evidence showed the recalled carrots were the likely source.
Your Legal Rights
On November 18, 2024, Ron Simon & Associates and Gomez Trial Attorneys filed the first lawsuit in this outbreak, in Kern County, California, where Grimmway Farms is based. The client is an adult who was hospitalized after eating Bunny Luv organic carrots. Ron Simon & Associates alleges that Grimmway breached its duty to provide safe products and failed to warn about the carrots’ hazards.
Ron Simon & Associates has recovered over $850 million for food poisoning victims nationwide and is still reviewing claims from this outbreak. You pay our firm nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Call 1-888-335-4901 for a free consultation.