Lawsuit over E. coli outbreak draws attention to carrot producers

Nov 22, 2024

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Jack Aylmer Reporter

By Jack Aylmer (Reporter), Alex Delia (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

A Georgia woman is suing Grimmway Farms after suffering from an E. coli infection linked to contaminated organic carrots. The outbreak has sickened at least 39 people across 18 states and claimed one life.

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The 40-year-old plaintiff spent three days hospitalized after consuming Bunny Luv carrots, one of several recalled brands distributed by Grimmway Farms.

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Her lawsuit, filed in California, seeks compensation for medical expenses and the physical and emotional suffering she endured.

The Food and Drug Administration is now warning consumers not to eat or serve multiple brands of bagged organic whole and baby carrots. — Getty Images

Her attorney, specializing in foodborne illness cases, said at least six additional clients are preparing lawsuits, with more expected. The outbreak has been traced to Grimmway Farms, a dominant player in the carrot industry, which controls over 80% of the American fresh carrot supply alongside rival Bolthouse Farms.

Grimmway Farms and Bolthouse Farms operate in California’s arid Cuyama Valley, where residents face water scarcity and contamination issues.

Critics argue that the companies’ high water usage, combined with deep well drilling, has contributed to rising levels of boron and arsenic in the local water supply.

Grimmway Farms stated that none of the recalled carrots tested positive for E. coli and that it is cooperating with health officials to review its farming and processing practices. Meanwhile, the fresh carrot market has surged into a $1.4 billion industry, with prices climbing 40% since 2019.

Tags: Agriculture, California, E. coli, Health, Lawsuit, Recall

A GEORGIA WOMAN IS TAKING LEGAL ACTION AFTER FALLING VICTIM TO A DEADLY E-COLI OUTBREAK LINKED TO ORGANIC CARROTS.

THE 40-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SAYS SHE SPENT THREE DAYS HOSPITALIZED AFTER EATING BUNNY LUV CARROTS… ONE OF THE BRANDS NOW RECALLED BY GRIMMWAY FARMS. HER LAWSUIT, FILED IN CALIFORNIA, SEEKS COMPENSATION FOR HER MEDICAL EXPENSES AND THE PAIN AND SUFFERING SHE ENDURED.

HER ATTORNEY, SPECIALIZING IN FOOD POISONING CASES…. REVEALED THAT SIX ADDITIONAL CLIENTS MAY FILE LAWSUITS CONNECTED TO THIS OUTBREAK, WITH MORE LIKELY TO FOLLOW.

THE OUTBREAK… WHICH HAS ALREADY SICKENED AT LEAST 39 PEOPLE ACROSS 18 STATES AND CLAIMED ONE LIFE…. HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO GRIMMWAY FARMS, A COMPANY THAT, ALONG WITH ITS RIVAL BOLTHOUSE FARMS, CONTROLS OVER 80-PERCENT OF AMERICA’S CARROT SUPPLY. TOGETHER, THESE TWO FARMING GIANTS DOMINATE THE INDUSTRY.

BOTH FARMS OPERATE IN CALIFORNIA’S CUYAMA VALLEY… A REGION THAT RECEIVES ONLY 8 INCHES OF RAIN PER YEAR. GRIMMWAY AND BOLTHOUSE PUMP OVER 75-PERCENT OF THE VALLEY’S WATER, A PRACTICE THAT HAS RAPIDLY DEPLETED THE LOCAL WELLS. RESIDENTS ARE NOW FACING A SERIOUS CRISIS: AS THE WATER LEVELS DROP, THE FARMS ARE DRILLING DEEPER, LEADING TO ALARMING LEVELS OF BORON AND ARSENIC IN THE LOCAL WATER SUPPLY.

CRITICS SAY THESE COMPANIES HAVE ALLEGEDLY PRIORITIZED PROFITS OVER SUSTAINABILITY.

SINCE 2019… CARROT PRICES HAVE SOARED OVER 40-PERCENT, OUTPACING INFLATION, AND FRESH CARROTS HAVE GROWN INTO A 1.4 BILLION DOLLAR MARKET.

ACCORDING TO GRIMMWAY FARMS… NONE OF THE RECALLED CARROTS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR E-COLI. THE COMPANY SAYS IT’S WORKING WITH HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO REVIEW ITS GROWING, HARVESTING AND PROCESSING PRACTICES.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M JACK AYLMER.