Packaged Carrot Products Being Recalled Over Salmonella Fears

Grimmway Farms issued last week a voluntary recall of its carrot products that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

"The recall was initiated as a result of a routine, internal company test," Jeff Huckaby, president and CEO at Grimmway Farms, said in the company announcement posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) website.

The recall affects products sold under several brand names, including "Organic Cut and Peeled Baby Carrots" and "Organic Premium Petite Carrots" under the brand name Bunny Luv and "Organic Petite Carrots" from Cal-Organic. Grimmway Farms brand "Shredded Carrots" and O Organics' "Organic Peeled Baby-Cut Carrots" and "Organic Baby Rainbow Carrots" are also included in the recall. The said products were shipped directly to retailers "throughout the United States."

Photos of the affected retail products are available on the FDA website and so are the specific UPC codes, package sizes and Use-By Dates.

The recall also affects shredded and chopped carrots sold as ingredients to foodservice distributors.

"All affected food manufacturers, food service distributors, and retail customers have been notified with much of the product having been recaptured before being available for consumption," the company announcement noted.

"When this issue was identified, we promptly initiated a recall of all potentially affected products that had left our facility in California; thankfully, no illnesses have been linked to those products," Huckaby said in a statement. "However, that does not negate the seriousness with which we take this situation."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that Salmonella causes about one million foodborne illnesses in the U.S. each year, with the illnesses being more common in the summer because of the warmer weather. Salmonella can be serious and "more dangerous" for children below five years old, adults aged 65 and older and those who have weakened immune systems.

And even with the grim numbers, it's likely that there are more Salmonella illnesses that simply go undiagnosed.

"For every one case of Salmonella illness confirmed by laboratory tests, there are about 30 more cases of Salmonella illnesses that are not," the CDC said.

Those who may still have the affected products are being advised not to consume them and "destroy or discard" them instead. They may also contact the company if they have questions about the recall.

"The health of you and your family, and the integrity of our products, is always at the forefront of our decisions, which is why we voluntarily initiated a recall of all carrot products that may have been affected," Huckaby said further.

"Please know that we are diligently working with the regulatory authorities, including the FDA, to resolve this issue," he added.