Whole Foods Market is pulling back organic carrots and celery from its stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, and Nevada due to concerns related to an E. coli outbreak that has impacted 39 people in 18 states. The recall involves 15-ounce packages of Whole Foods Market-branded organic carrot sticks and carrot & celery sticks sold in these states, following a warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. The Sacramento-based company F&S Fresh Foods made the decision to recall the produce after being informed by Grimmway Farms, a local supplier, about the potential contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
Authorities are currently investigating the E. coli outbreak that has resulted in the death of one person and hospitalized at least 15 others. The recalled carrots and celery were sold in plastic clamshell containers labeled with "GH" followed by three digits ranging from 236 to 284, and best-if-sold-by dates between September 1, 2024, and October 19, 2024. Even though the products are no longer on store shelves, there is a possibility that they may still be present in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. E. coli bacteria pose a significant health risk, especially to vulnerable populations like the young, elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems, as they can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections.