Bags of mixed vegetables being sold at Walmart, Sprouts Farmers Market, Albert’s Organics, and other stores are being pulled from shelves due to a connection with the Grimmway Farms organic carrot recall and an E. coli outbreak. This was announced by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday.
4Earth Farms is voluntarily recalling several of their organic and conventional vegetable mixes, which include broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and sometimes snow peas, as well as whole organic carrots. This decision came after Grimmway Farms informed them about potential E. coli contamination in the carrots.
Grimmway Farms first began recalling their organic baby and whole carrots on November 16, after linking them to an E. coli outbreak affecting 39 people, leading to 15 hospitalizations and one death. These products were sold in stores such as Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and Target.
While the E. coli cases emerged across 18 states, the recently recalled vegetable mixes were only sent to New Hampshire, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Illinois, and Colorado. So far, no illnesses have been reported from the 4Earth Farms products.
The products now being recalled come with best-by dates between September 7 and November 2, suggesting they’re likely off store shelves but might still be in consumers’ fridges or freezers. The FDA advises that if you have any of these products, don’t eat them. Instead, discard them and make sure to clean and sanitize any surfaces or items they have touched.
If you’re worried that you might have eaten one of the affected products, watch for typical E. coli symptoms like severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, or a slight fever. These usually appear three to four days after consumption and most people recover without needing treatment in about a week.
Certain groups, like children under 5, people aged 65 and older, those with weakened immune systems, and international travelers, are more prone to severe E. coli infections. If you experience serious symptoms, reach out to your healthcare provider.
