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.
NPR reported that 2024 was a year of high-profile food recalls:
"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.
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.
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:
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.”
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.
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.
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:
The CDC reported 19 total cases including 17 hospitalizations and 2 deaths across 8 states:
“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.