E. Coli Food Poisoning Lawsuit Filed Over Recalled Organic Carrots

A Washington state couple has filed a lawsuit against the distributor of organic carrots recalled earlier this month, after their daughter was hospitalized with a severe case of E. coli food poisoning.

The case is believed to be the first of what may eventually become dozens of E. coli food poisoning lawsuits that result from a massive organic carrot recall issued by Grimmway Farms, which has already sickened nearly 40 people, and impacted whole and baby carrots that were sold under a variety of brand names at retail stores nationwide.

E. coli is a dangerous bacteria most often consumed through food products, which can cause individuals to suffer severe vomiting, dehydration and diarrhea, typically lasting for several days. In severe cases, E. coli food poisoning can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure and other fatal injuries, especially among the elderly, those with weakened immune systems and children.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Jaqueline Sharon Rae Minty and Sean Thomas Minty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on November 20, indicating that their daughter, identified only with the initials S.R.M., consumed the tainted carrots during the week of September 24, and began developing symptoms of E. coli food poisoning about five days later.

S.R.M.’s symptoms began with stomach cramping and diarrhea. However, over the next two days, the illness became worse, and the child started having to go to the bathroom every hour, leaving her crying throughout the night due to the pain, according to the lawsuit.

When blood appeared in the child’s stool on October 1, Jaqueline Minty took her daughter to the hospital, where she was given an ultrasound for appendicitis, which turned out negative. She eventually tested positive for O121 Shiga Toxin E. coli, which is the same bacterial strain linked to recalled carrots distributed in recent months throughout the U.S..

The lawsuit names Grimmway Enterprises as the only defendant, pursuing claims against the company for negligence, strict product liability, and breach of express and implied warranties.

Although the family indicates that S.R.M. has been released from the hospital and fully recovered physically, she still suffers from anxiety around eating and going to the bathroom, which she never struggled with before.

As a result, the Mintys are seeking financial compensation for all general, special, incidental and consequential damages, as well as additional cash damages.

Grimmway Farms Organic Carrots E. Coli Outbreak

The day after the Grimmway Farms recall was first announced by the FDA on November 16, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched its own investigation into the organic carrot E. Coli outbreak, indicating it was aware of at least 39 cases of food poisoning reported by consumers in 18 different states. Fifteen of those illnesses were serious enough to result in hospitalization, and at least one person has died as result of food poisoning from the recalled carrots.

According to the FDA recall, the affected Grimmway Farms whole and baby carrots may have been sold under a variety of popular brand names, including:

While all of the recalled carrots should have been removed from store shelves, health officials remain concerned that some may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers, due to the long shelf-life for whole and baby carrot products. Neither refrigeration nor freezing kills E. coli bacteria.

The potentially tainted whole and baby carrots were available for purchase between August 14 and October 23, 2024.

Since many consumers are just now learning about the carrot recall, it is widely expected that additional illnesses will be reported in the coming weeks, and more consumers are expected to file E. coli food poisoning lawsuits against Grimmway Farms.