A National Recall Of Popular Vegetable Medleys Has Been Announced Due To E. Coli

After a nationwide recall of organic baby and whole carrots due to possible E. coli contamination in November, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced another related recall on December 2. This most recent recall is targeted at fresh vegetable mixes from distributor 4Earth Farms that could contain carrots sourced from Grimmway Farms, the carrot producer that initiated the earlier recall that went into effect November 16. While no illness or death has been reported to 4Earth Farms, the distributor is taking action to err on the side of caution. 

The specific products to check your kitchen for are fresh, packaged vegetable mixes produced by brands Wild Harvest, Marketside, 4Earth Farms, and Grimmway. The products in question will have the label of "organic vegetable medley," "vegetable medley," or "stir fry medley"  and the FDA has shared a list of specific UPC codes to look out for. These products will have a best by date ranging from September 7, 2024 to November 02, 2024, so they will already be expired by several weeks.

This secondary recall is not as extensive as the first, affecting only a handful of retailers including Sprouts Farmer's Market, Albert's Organic, Walmart, O.K. Produce, UNFI, and Kennedy Produce. Only retailers located in the states of Florida, California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Minnesota, and Illinois are affected.

If you live in any of the aforementioned states and shop at these retailers for fresh vegetable mixes, check your fridge and freezer. Toss any unopened or opened bags of these products into the trash. Clean and sanitize any Tupperware that the vegetable mixes could have been stored in, as well as any surfaces they may have touched.

If you were in possession of these products and have already eaten it, monitor your symptoms. After the ingestion of E. coli, the average incubation is between three to four days, with symptoms like stomach cramping, vomiting, nausea, fever, and diarrhea. (Certain vegetables are at a higher risk of E. coli contamination.)

Elderly people, children, or those with weakened immune systems can become more fatally infected and should see a doctor immediately. If shopping in any of the retailers in the aforementioned states, don't fret about avoiding these products, as they are already discarded and no longer available for purchase.