One dead and dozens ill after eating carrots contaminated with E. coli

One person has died and dozens of others have been left seriously unwell after contracting E.coli from bagged carrots.

California-based distributor Grimmway Farms has been forced to recall select organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots following the contamination.

The farm sells under multiple brand names in the US, including Trader Joe's.

As of yesterday (November 17), 39 people were infected and 15 were hospitalized in 18 states after eating the carrots, PBS News reported. One of the 39 is since said to have died, as per Sky News.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cases in question emerged between September 7 and October 28. Washington, Minnesota and New York have reported the highest number of cases.

The public health agency said in a recent statement: "This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli."

The CDC says there are numerous different types of E.coli, but symptoms of having contracted the bacteria can range from diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and a fever.

Grimmway Farms has issued a statement on the matter as well.

One of the products that Grimmway Farms has recalled (Grimmway Farms)

In a news release shared on Saturday (November 16), the company said: "Grimmway Farms has issued a recall of select organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots that should no longer be in grocery stores but may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

"These products may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19. E. coli O121:H19 is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and those with a weakened immune system."

UNILAD have approached Grimmway Farms for comment.

Trader Joe's is one of the brands Grimmway Farms distributes to (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The incident is the latest E.coli outbreak to ravage parts of the US after hundreds of McDonald's customers became sick after eating onions from the fast food chain.

The onions in question were from another California-based farm called Taylors Farms.

Colorado reported at least 30 cases; Montana reported 19; Nebraska, 13; and New Mexico, 10. The illnesses were reported between September 12 and October 21. At least 104 people became ill and 34 were hospitalised, according to federal health officials.

McDonald's has since pledged to invest $100 million to bring customers back to stores.

$65 million will go directly to the hardest-hit franchises, the company said.

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