CDC warns of new E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots
CDC has posted a Food Safety Alert regarding a multi-state outbreak linked to organic carrots at: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O121.html.
Key Points:
• Thirty-nine people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 18 states, including Ohio. Fifteen people have been hospitalized and one person has died.
• Interviews with sick people and traceback findings show that organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms are making people sick.
• Grimmway Farms recalled the implicated carrots. Multiple brands and sizes of bagged organic whole and baby carrots were recalled.
• These products are no longer for sale at stores but may still be people's homes. Check your refrigerators and throw them away.
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.
E. coli Symptoms:
• Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting.
• Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
• Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
• Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
• For more information about E. coli, see: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/about/index.html.
If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state's health department.
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