F&S Fresh Foods has issued a voluntary recall of two of its products distributed through Whole Foods Market due to potential contamination with Escherichia coli (E. coli).
The recall affects Organic Carrot Sticks and Organic Carrots & Celery, sold in select stores across the United States.
Newsweek contacted Whole Foods Market on Monday via email and F&S Fresh Foods via its online website for comment outside of normal working hours on Monday.
As reported by Newsweek, Grimmway Farms recalled some of its organic whole and baby carrots, affecting 19 brands across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
The recall was made after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the carrots may be associated with an outbreak.
As Newsweek previously reported, carrots carrying E. coli have killed one person and made 38 others ill across multiple U.S. states, the CDC announced.
The latest recall was initiated after F&S Fresh Foods, based in Sacramento, California, was notified by Grimmway Farms that whole organic carrots supplied to F&S Fresh Foods may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19.
E. coli bacteria can cause serious health complications. Symptoms of E. coli infection may include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting, and fever.
In severe cases, especially among young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening condition.
When Newsweek previously approached Grimmway Farms via email for comment, it was directed to its statement from president and CEO Jeff Huckaby.
He said: "We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously. 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. Our food safety team is working with our suppliers and health authorities."
The recall is being conducted in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who published the company notice on its website on Sunday.
The products should no longer be in stores but may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers, said the notice.
Details of the Recalled Products
- Whole Foods Market 15 oz. Organic Carrot Sticks: Packaged in 15 oz packaging, with "Best By" dates ranging from 9/1/24 to 10/19/24.
- Whole Foods Market 15 oz. Organic Carrots & Celery: Packaged in 15 oz packaging, with "Best By" dates ranging from 9/1/24 to 10/19/24.
Both products were distributed to Whole Foods Market stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, and Nevada.
The containers are plastic clamshells as pictured below on the company announcement on the FDA website.
Coding information will include the letters "GH" followed by three digits ranging from 236 – 284.
The notice states that no illnesses have been reported to F&S Fresh Foods to date. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and to discard them immediately.
"Consumers who purchased carrots with the above best if sold by dates and still have them in their refrigerator or freezer should not consume them; they should be destroyed or discarded so they cannot be consumed," the company advised.
"If you have these products in your home, do not eat or use them, throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they may have touched."
If you believe you have consumed the affected products and are experiencing symptoms of E. coli infection, you are advised to contact a healthcare professional promptly.
The incubation period for E. coli O121:H19 in humans can range from 24 hours to as much as 10 days. The average incubation period is 3 to 4 days, the notice advised.
For more details or to address concerns, consumers can contact the company's customer service line at (888)449-9386, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
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