Summary
An E. coli outbreak linked to bagged organic carrots from Grimmway Farms has infected 39 people across 18 states, with 15 hospitalized and one death reported.
The recalled carrots, sold under brands like Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and 365, are no longer in stores, but the CDC urges consumers to check for and discard any remaining stock.
E. coli infections, which cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting, can be life-threatening for vulnerable groups.
Recent outbreaks have also been tied to onions, lettuce, and walnuts.
Wait… doesn’t everyone wash their produce before using it?
For the most part, but definitely not everyone. Many people lack awareness about where food comes from in general, not to mention basic food safety practices. It wouldn’t surprise me if folks who mostly buy prepackaged produce and know little about farming would assume their produce is clean enough from the store.