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Organic Carrot Supplier in California Recalls Produce Items as CDC Posts Food Safety Alert

Food Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	12/10/2024
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Organic Carrot Supplier in California Recalls Produce Items as CDC Posts Food Safety Alert
Introduction	LA Testing offers food and environmental testing services to identify E. coli, Salmonella, and other pathogens to mitigate exposure risks, prevent product recalls, or to help pinpoint the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred.
Huntington Beach, California, December 10, 2024 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently posted a Food Safety Alert about an E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots. At the time of the posting, the agency acknowledged 39 illnesses, 15 hospitalizations, and 1 death. These cases have taken place in at least 18 states. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with CDC, state, and local partners, is investigating the outbreak and has posted information about a California supplier of whole and baby organic carrots that has voluntarily recalled the produce items that were sold in the United States and Canada. They recommend that people should not eat, sell, or serve the recalled carrots due to E. coli O121:H19 contamination concerns. The FDA recall notice warns: E. coli O121:H19 is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and those with a weakened immune system. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea conditions, such as a hemolytic uremic syndrome, or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. The incubation period for E. coli O121:H19 in humans can range from 24 hours to as much as ten days. “To help prevent these types of situations where contaminated foods could reach consumers, LA Testing offers food and environmental testing services for E. coli, Salmonella, and many other potential contaminants,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “These testing resources are available to food producers, processors, importers, distributors, health professional, and regulatory agencies.” To learn more about E. coli or other food and microbial testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.