The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared the outbreak of Escherichia coli infections linked to Grimmway Farms carrots to be over.
A total of 48 illnesses in 19 states were reported in the outbreak, resulting in 20 hospitalizations, one death, and one case of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
Traceback investigation implicated organic, whole and baby carrots produced by California-based Grimmway Farms as the vehicle of the outbreak. The carrots were sold under a variety of brands and were distributed internationally. A recall was initiated.
FDA conducted inspections at Grimmway Farms, and two of the environmental samples collected outside were positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). However, neither of the STEC strains matched the strain of E. coli causing illnesses in the outbreak.
The outbreak strain of E. coli was not found in environmental samples, but FDA maintains that traceback evidence points to the recalled Grimmway Farms carrots as the likely source of illnesses in the outbreak.
