An urgent warning has been issued after an E. coli outbreak linked to carrots has left one person dead and a further 15 hospitalised.
The bacterium, known by its full name of Escherichia coli, is commonly found in the gut of humans and animals.
Most strains are relatively harmless, but some can cause serious illness, with the World Health Organization (WHO) saying the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) causes ‘severe’ foodborne disease.
Many people infected with the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli usually experience symptoms within three to four days of ingesting the bacteria, including stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting.
While the majority recover without treatment, after five to seven days, some may develop serious kidney problems that require hospitalisation.
.jpg)
Most strains are fairly harmless, but some can cause serious illness (Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library/Getty Images)
Officials in the US have issued an urgent warning over a new outbreak, which has been linked to organic carrots.
A statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said: “CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O121 infections linked to multiple brands of recalled organic whole bagged carrots and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms.
“Carrots on store shelves right now are likely not affected but may be in people’s homes. If you have any recalled carrots in your home, throw them out or return them to the store.”
The main advice from the CDC is to obviously ‘not eat any recalled bagged organic carrots’, with shoppers told to check their refrigerators and freezers for the specific recalled products:
Grimmway Farms Baby Organic Carrots
- Best-if-used-by dates ranging from 9/11/2024 to 11/12/2024
- Brands: 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Grimmway Farms, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O-Organic, President’s Choice, Raley’s, Simple Truth, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry
Grimmway Farms Whole Organic Carrots
- Were available for purchase in stores approximately from 8/14/2024 through 10/23/2024
- No best-if-used-by-dates are on the bags of organic whole carrots.
- Brands: 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O-Organic, President’s Choice, Simple Truth, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry
The outbreak has been linked to organic carrots (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
“Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled organic carrots using hot soapy water or a dishwasher,” it added.
A recall notice from Grimmway Farms said the specific products ‘may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19’.
“The company is voluntarily recalling these carrots after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that these products may be associated with an outbreak,” it said.
“To date, 39 illnesses and one death have been associated with an E. coli O121:H19 outbreak.
“The company has also notified its customers who received the recalled product directly from Grimmway Farms and requested that those customers notify distributors of the recall products.
“The implicated farms are out of production, and none of the recalled carrots have tested positive for E. coli O121:H19.”
LADbible Group has reached out to Grimmway Farms for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Nancybelle Gonzaga Villarroya/Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
Topics: Health, Food and Drink, US News
Officials have issued a crucial warning after an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s products left one person dead and 49 ill, including 10 who have had to be hospitalised.
While most strains of E. coli – or Escherichia coli – are relatively harmless, some can cause serious illness, with the World Health Organization (WHO) saying the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), also known as Escherichia coli 0157, causes ‘severe foodborne illness’.
A current outbreak has forced McDonald’s stores in the US to remove quarter pounders and slivered onions from the menu amid fears that the ingredients may be linked.
So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 49 cases of illnesses across several states, 10 of which have resulted in people being hospitalised.
One person has also tragically died.
Some strains of E. coli can cause serious illness (STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images)
In response to the news, the CDC has shared a list of symptoms associated with the Shiga toxin-producing E.coli, with most people experiencing ‘severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting’.
“Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria,” it said
“Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
“Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.”
The CDC urges people to call their healthcare provider if they experience:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F, including: diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving; bloody diarrhea
- So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as: not peeing much; dry mouth and throat; feeling dizzy when standing up
In a statement earlier this week, Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer said that serving customers ‘safely’ was the company’s ‘top priority’.
“It is why we are taking swift and decisive action following an E. Coli outbreak in certain states,” he explained.
McDonald’s has been forced to remove quarter pounders and slivered onions from menus in a number of restaurants (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.
“As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.”
Piña added: “Out of an abundance of caution, we are also temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do. Impacted restaurants are receiving a stock recovery notice today and should reach out to their field supply chain manager or distribution center with any questions.
“We are working in close partnership with our suppliers to replenish supply for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks (timing will vary by local market). In the meantime, all other menu items, including other beef products (including the Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger) are unaffected and available. We will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are committed to providing timely updates as we restore our full menu.”
Featured Image Credit: Scott Olson/STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images
Topics: Health, US News, McDonalds, Food and Drink
McDonald’s has been sued after an E. coli outbreak linked to its products left one person dead and 49 ill, with an investigation currently underway to confirm the source of the issue.
While most strains of E. coli – or Escherichia coli – are relatively harmless, some can cause serious illness, with the World Health Organization (WHO) saying the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), also known as Escherichia coli 0157, causes ‘severe foodborne illness’.
The current outbreak has forced a number of McDonald’s stores in the US to remove quarter pounders and slivered onions from the menu amid fears that the ingredients may be linked.
So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 49 cases of illnesses across several states, 10 of which have resulted in people being hospitalised. One person has also tragically died.
The outbreak has left one dead and 49 ill (Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Colorado resident Eric Stelly claims to be one of 10 people hospitalised by the outbreak, and is now suing the fast food giant for $50,000.
Stelly and at least 10 others who were affected are being represented by attorney Ron Simon, of law firm Ron Simon and Associates.
However, so far, Stelly is the only person to have filed a complaint, dated 23 October.
The documents, obtained by People, state he had consumed food at his local McDonald’s earlier this month, and went on to experience ‘symptoms of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli’.
Stelly was hospitalised on 8 October, eventually testing positive for the illness.
According to the filing, he ‘continues to recover from the effects of E. coli food poisoning’.
Tyla has reached out to McDonald’s for comment.
In a statement earlier this week, Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer, said that serving customers ‘safely’ was the company’s ‘top priority’.
“It is why we are taking swift and decisive action following an E. Coli outbreak in certain states,” he explained.
“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.
McDonald’s was forced to remove a number of products from its menus in several locations (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.”
Piña added: “Out of an abundance of caution, we are also temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do. Impacted restaurants are receiving a stock recovery notice today and should reach out to their field supply chain manager or distribution center with any questions.
“We are working in close partnership with our suppliers to replenish supply for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks (timing will vary by local market). In the meantime, all other menu items, including other beef products (including the Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger) are unaffected and available. We will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are committed to providing timely updates as we restore our full menu.”
