Washington reports 8 cases in multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to bagged carrots

WASHINGTON — Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Sunday a Food Safety Alert regarding a multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to bagged carrots, including eight cases in Washington.

One person died and 15 people were hospitalized after being infected with strain O121 of E. coli, the CDC said. The outbreak has infected 39 people from 18 different states.

There have been eight cases reported in Washington as of Sunday afternoon.

The outbreak has been linked back to organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms, the CDC said. Grimmway Farms recalled contaminated carrots, including multiple brands and sizes of bagged organic whole and baby carrots.

Experts say they are likely no longer available at stores but may have been purchased and stored in consumer’s homes. The CDC recommends for consumers to check their refrigerators and throw them away.

The outbreak follows a string of other E. coli outbreaks over the past few months, including an outbreak in October at McDonald’s and an outbreak linked to lettuce in June.

“These last months have been a bit nuts,” said Bill Marler, a leading foodborne illness attorney.

Still, experts say the current system for spotting outbreaks is working.

“Our technology for figuring out outbreaks is much better today than it was even five years ago,” Marler said. “All of the genetic fingerprinting that is done. Even though these outbreaks seem to be happening a lot, they’re actually smaller.”

The CDC provided the following additional recommendations to keep you and your family safe:

What You Should Do:

• Do not eat any recalled bagged organic carrots.
• If you have severe symptoms of E. coli infection, seek health care, and tell your provider about what you ate.
• Businesses should not use recalled bagged organic carrots.

Baby Organic Carrots

• Best-if-used-by dates ranging from Sept. 11 to Nov. 12.
• Brands: 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Grimmway Farms, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O-Organic, President’s Choice, Raley’s, Simple Truth, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry

Whole Organic Carrots

• Were available for purchase in stores approximately from Aug. 14 to Oct. 23.
• No best-if-used-by-dates are on the bags of organic whole carrots.
• Brands: 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O-Organic, President’s Choice, Simple Truth, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry

Symptoms of infection include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. Symptoms usually start three to four days after swallowing the bacteria, and most people recover without treatment after about a week.

The CDC said that some people may develop serious kidney problems and would need to be hospitalized. For more information, click here.

If you have questions about cases, please call the Washington State Department of Health.

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