From time to time you hear about an outbreak of E. coli. Learn what E. coli is and the symptoms of the illness that can be caused by the bacteria.
One person has died and dozens have been sickened, many of them local, across nearly 20 states in an E. coli outbreak the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is linked to organic bagged carrots.
Altogether, 39 people were infected and 15 were hospitalized in 18 states, including New York and New Jersey, after eating organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms, which are sold at stores like Trader Joe's and Wegmans. Other brand names they're sold under include 365, Cal-Organic, Nature's Promise and O-Organics.
The Grimmway Farms carrots are no longer in stores, but the CDC is warning consumers to not eat recalled bag carrots and to check their refrigerators or freezers and throw away any carrots that fit the description.
Most of the infected people live in New York, Minnesota and Washington, followed by California and Oregon, although infections have been reported in states throughout the country, according to the CDC. The person who died lived in California.
The recalled organic baby carrots have best-by dates ranging from Sept. 11 through Nov. 12, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you have any recalled carrots in your home, throw them out or return them. See the various labels here, via the FDA.
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Symptoms of E. coli infection usually start three to four days after eating the bacteria and include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, which is often bloody, and vomiting. People with severe symptoms of an E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell the provider what they ate, the CDC said.
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The bacteria E. coli can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.
There have been several E. coli outbreaks in recent months. In October, more than 100 McDonald’s customers were sickened by an E. coli outbreak in the U.S. linked to slivered onions. In the U.K., one person died in an E. coli outbreak in June linked to lettuce that sickened at least 275 people. Organic walnuts sickened consumers in 19 states with E. coli infections in April.
Despite the number of recent outbreaks, experts say the food supply is generally safe, although there hasn't been much progress in curbing infections caused by E. coli.
