United States: Dozens of people have fallen sick, with one death across eighteen US states, which has sent a shock wave across the nation after an E. coli outbreak connected to recalled carrots took place, reported the CDC.
Since September, at least thirty-nine people have reported falling ill with E. coli after consuming carrots; fifteen of them were hospitalized, said the CDC.
More about the news
Bagged organic baby and whole carrots in various sizes and brands were recalled Saturday by Grimmway Farms of Bakersfield, California, which claims to be the world’s largest carrot producer.
The carrots were sold under the store brands of Kroger, Publix, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wegmans, and Whole Foods.
While the carrots have probably been removed from stores, people may still have them at their homes, stated Grimmway Farms. Those who have rereminded carrots should discard or return them to the store they bought, and anyone who may have handled them should wash their surface, CDC said.
The products were distributed under several brands, such as Grimmway Farms, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s Wegmans, and Good & Gather, among others, according to the recall notice.
About the outbreak
The health agency noted that illnesses reported may not portray the exact expanse of the outbreak as it could take up to four weeks or more to take a notice that if a sick person is part of an outbreak, and in many cases, people who get E. coli get better without treatment and never get tested for the bacteria, the agency noted.
Shiga toxin-producing E.coli, which has been associated with carrot recall, has an incubation period of about three to four days and is self-limiting, lasting for about setting for five to seven days, according to the agency.
The CDC describes groups at a higher risk for infection to be Children under five years, people who are sixty-five years and above, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Consumers should consult a healthcare provider if they get severe E. coli symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and dizziness, the agency says.
According to Grimmway Farms President and CEO Jeff Huckaby,
“We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously,” CNN Health reported.
“The health of our customers and the integrity of our products are our highest priorities, and we are conducting a thorough review of our growing, harvest, and processing practices,” Huckaby added.