Grimmway Farms, located in Bakersfield, CA, has recalled organic carrots with “use by” dates ranging from mid-August through mid-November as a result of contamination with E. coli O157:H7.  Outbreaks have been recorded in 18 states with 39 cases to date requiring 15 hospitalizations and with one fatality.

In a statement, Grimmway Farms is cooperating with state and federal agencies to identify causation, presumed to be contamination of water used to irrigate crops.

This incident demonstrates the reality that the organic seal does not provide any assurance of protection against pathogens despite public perceptions to the contrary.

The implicated baby and whole organic carrots were marketed by Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Wegman’s, Target, Walmart and other retailers.