A carrot farm in New Cuyama has been linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak, which has resulted in three confirmed cases in California. A plethora of organic carrot brands sold at some of Santa Barbara’s largest grocery stores have been recalled. Grimmway Farms, which has grown a portion of its carrot crop on the Cuyama farm for over three decades, was determined to be the source of the outbreak.
According to a November 17 alert issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Grimmway Farms has pulled the contaminated carrots from store shelves, but the recalled product may remain in consumers’ homes. Organic carrots, baby and whole, from brands sold at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Target, and Sprouts, among others, are subject to the recall. Brands include 365, Good & Gather, Nature’s Promise, Simple Truth, Wegmans, and more. The CDC recommends that consumers not consume the recalled carrots, dispose of them, and sanitize anything they touch.
There have been 39 confirmed cases of this E. coli outbreak, with 15 hospitalizations nationwide. The outbreak’s sole death was reported in California.