If you were planning to serve honey glazed or garlic parmesan roasted carrots at Thanksgiving, it might be time to rethink your menu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting an E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots.
According to federal health officials, 38 people have reportedly fallen ill and one has died as a result of the outbreak, which spans 18 states and began as far back as September, NPR reports. Washington, Minnesota, and New York currently have the highest number of cases. The CDC also warned that there are likely more states and more illnesses than the current list. This map shows the affected states:
The investigation has identified Grimmway Farms as at least one of the suppliers involved, which spurred the company to recall organic whole and baby carrots as a result of the outbreak. Grimmway is one of the world's largest suppliers of organic carrots. The potentially contaminated products include best-if-use-by dates between September 11 and November 12 and were sold between August 13 and October 23.
"We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously," President and CEO Jeff Huckaby said in a statement, per NBC. "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."
The FDA has listed Trader Joe's, Wegmans, Sprouts, 365 from Whole Foods, Good & Gather from Target, Marketside from Walmart, GreenWise from Publix, and more stores as part of the recall. And while Grimmway Farms has assured customers that the products should no longer be on shelves, the company did advise consumers to double check their fridges and freezers in the case they're still lying around.
This isn't the only E. coli outbreak as of late. Just last month, McDonald's Quarter Pounders were pulled from menus after the sandwich—or more specifically the slivered onions on the sandwich—killed one person and sickened 104 people across 14 states.
Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.
