**Federal Officials Alert Public to E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Organic Carrots**

Federal health authorities have issued a warning regarding a significant E. coli outbreak associated with organic carrots, which has affected numerous people nationwide, including seven cases in New York and New Jersey and one fatality in California. The contamination has been traced back to bagged whole carrots and baby carrots from Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California. These contaminated carrots were sold under various brand names, such as Whole Foods' 365, Nature's Promise, Trader Joe's, and Wegmans.

Grimmway Farms initiated a recall of the affected carrot products on Saturday. Although these items might no longer be available on store shelves, they may still be present in consumers' homes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly advises consumers to discard any of these carrots found in their refrigerators and to thoroughly clean any surfaces or items that may have come into contact with the carrots using hot, soapy water.

The brands involved in the recall include: 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, and Wholesome Pantry. Some of the bags of organic whole carrots did not have best-if-used-by dates.

E. coli is a bacterium commonly found in the digestive tracts of healthy individuals, but certain strains can lead to serious illness if ingested. Symptoms typically appear three to four days after consuming the contaminated food and include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. While most people recover without treatment within five to seven days, severe symptoms may necessitate hospitalization. The CDC advises those experiencing severe symptoms such as persistent bloody diarrhea, high fever, excessive vomiting, or signs of dehydration to seek immediate medical attention.

To date, 39 cases linked to the carrots have been identified across 18 states, resulting in 15 hospitalizations and one death. Health officials caution that the actual number of infections is likely higher, as many individuals recover without seeking medical care and are not tested for E. coli.