The holidays are a time when folks gather with their family and friends to share meals, but at the end of 2024 consumers needed to keep an eye on E. coli and salmonella outbreaks nationwide linked to carrots and cucumbers.
An investigation into E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots started on Oct. 15, 2024, led to a product recall on Nov. 16, 2024 by a California producer, and was closed on Dec. 18, 2024, after 48 cases caused 20 hospitalizations and 1 death across 20 states.
“This outbreak is over. These carrots are past their shelf life and are no longer for sale,” reported the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Meanwhile, the CDC reported on Jan. 8, 2025 that the investigation into cucumbers and cucumber products linked to a salmonella outbreak was closed. The cucumbers were sold by importers in October and November 2024 by a producer in Mexico.
Multiple products, using the cucumbers in question, were recalled in late November and early December with a total of 113 cases including 28 hospitalizations across 23 states.
Finally, the year ended with an open listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meats that may have been responsible for two infant deaths.
2024 was a Year of High-Profile Food Recalls
NPR reported that 2024 was a year of high-profile food recalls:
- A deadly listeria outbreak led to a massive recall of Boar’s Head deli meat.
- Contaminated onions on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders were linked to E. coli outbreaks.
- Organic carrots were linked to E. coli outbreaks.
- Cucumbers were linked to salmonella.
"I think that this most recent spate of outbreaks and recalls has made the average American consumer more anxious about food safety," Darin Detwiler, a longtime food safety advocate and professor at Northeastern University, told NPR in December.
The Importance of Traceability Highlighted with Recalls
Food industry company ProducePay says the recent recalls expose the need for traceability in the product industry.
“These outbreaks reveal a troubling pattern of recurring contamination in multiple commodities and show how interconnected and fragile the produce supply chain is,” said ProducePay. “The financial costs of recalls—ranging from product losses and disrupted operations to legal liabilities—are immense. However, the reputational damage often runs deeper. Reduced consumer trust and strained relationships with business partners can result in lasting consequences, including lost market opportunities.”
Utilizing traceability software, such as FreshByte Software’s state-of-the-art software, can help the supply chain to quickly and efficiently respond to recalls such as the recent carrots and cucumbers investigations.
Recalled Organic Carrots Could Still be in Consumers Freezers
Grimmway Farms issued a recall of select organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots that should no longer be in grocery stores but may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported in mid-November.
“These products may have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O121:H19. 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,” said the FDA.
The following recalled products were shipped directly to retail distribution centers nationwide in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada:
- Organic whole carrots, which do not have a best-if-used-by date printed on the bag, but were available for purchase at retail stores from August 14 through October 23, 2024,
- Organic baby carrots with best-if-used-by-dates ranging from September 11 through November 12, 2024. The recalled carrots should not be available for purchase in stores but may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers.
The FDA said consumers who purchased the carrots in question and still have them in their refrigerator or freezer should not consume them.
“They should be destroyed or discarded so they cannot be consumed. If you have these products in your home, do not eat or use them, throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched. Consumers concerned about an illness should contact a medical professional,” recommended the FDA.
CNN reported at least one person died from the E. coli outbreak linked to the recalled carrots.
“The recall includes baby organic carrots with best-if-used-by dates ranging from September 11 to November 12 and whole organic carrots available in stores from about August 14 to October 23,” reported CNN. “The products were sold under multiple brand names, including Grimmway Farms, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Good & Gather and more, according to the recall notice.”
Cucumbers in Salmonella Outbreak in Various Products
The CDC reported that many companies recalled whole fresh cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, due to a salmonella outbreak.
“In addition, companies recalled sliced cucumbers or foods made with cucumbers like wraps and salads in some states. These cucumbers, and products made from these cucumbers, are no longer available for sale,” said the CDC.
Recalls prompted by the cucumbers in question.
- Baloian Farms of Arizona Co.: Whole bulk cucumbers (PamPak clear bag of 6).
- Baloian Farms of Arizona Co.: Salads and wraps (multiple brands, clear plastic wrap).
- Dairyland Produce, LLC: Whole bulk cucumbers (Costo in Houston and Dallas).
- F&S Fresh Foods: Mediterranean party tray (Ralph’s Stores in some states).
- Fresh Creative Foods: Gyro meal kit (Sam’s Club nationally).
- JFE Franchising, Inc.: Sushi, vegetable bowls, vegetable trays, cucumber slices with Tajin, cucumber bowls, salad kits, and cucumber salads (SNOWFRUIT and SNOWFOX brand).
- Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc.: Gyro meal kit (Sprouts Farmers Market).
- Russ Davis Wholesale: Cucumbers (whole, diced, peeled and sliced, or skin on sliced), salad kits, and wraps (clear plastic packaging, multiple sizes).
- SunFed Produce LLC: Whole bulk cucumbers (may have a sticker).
- Supreme Service Solutions LLC: Cucumber slices, salads, vegetable trays, vegetable bowls, snack cups (multiple packaging).
- Walmart: Cucumber slices (Marketside only in Texas).
- Yummi Sushi: Sushi (Kroger only in Texas).
The FDA says these products are past their shelf life and should no longer be available for sale. Consumers, retailers, and distributors should check their refrigerators and freezers and should not use or eat recalled cucumbers and recalled cucumber products.
Open Listeria Outbreak of Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products
While the listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head meats was highly publicized in 2024, another listeria outbreak of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products occurred late in the year and is already being blamed for two infant deaths.
The CDC reported on Dec. 5, 2024 an open investigation into a listeria outbreak linked to Yu Shang Food recalled products.
The recalled foods are the following Yu Shang Foods ready-to-eat meat and poultry products:
- All products with "Yu Shang" (establishment number "P46684" or "EST. M46684") on the label.
- Includes all products produced prior to October 28, 2024
The CDC reported 19 total cases including 17 hospitalizations and 2 deaths across 8 states:
- Seven illnesses are related to pregnancy.
- One person who was pregnant was sick and recovered.
- Two unrelated infants were also sick and recovered.
- In California, a mother and her twins were sick and both infants died. Listeria was found in a sample from the mother and from one of the twin infants, but it could not be found in a sample from the other infant. Because of this, only the mother and one twin are included as confirmed cases in this outbreak.
- In Tennessee, a mother and her infant were sick and her infant died.
“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria,” said the CDC.
As evidenced by the above news reports, traceability and rapid response to threats in the food supply chain are important to safeguard the public.Contact FreshByte Software today to learn more about how our software provides traceability that utilizes the latest technologies such as the latest barcodes and RFIDs.
