Bolthouse Farms Carrots Recall—What To Do? | Safe Steps

What Happened And Which Brands Were Named

Public health investigators traced illnesses to organic whole and baby carrots sold between mid-August and late October 2024. Grimmway Farms issued a voluntary recall that covered multiple retail labels and bag sizes. The investigation later added more sizes. The recall period is over at stores, but bags can sit in home fridges and freezers, so a quick check still helps.

Here’s the catch that confuses shoppers. Bolthouse Farms sells a large share of U.S. carrots, and people assume any carrot alert must include that label. The late-2024 event centered on Grimmway-supplied organic packs; agency pages didn’t name Bolthouse as a recalled label in that window. There was a separate Bolthouse carrot-chips recall back in 2012 tied to Salmonella screening, which isn’t related to the 2024 E. coli investigation.

If your package isn’t on the list but you still feel uneasy, toss it. Produce is cheap compared with a day lost to cramps. For long-term prevention, keep your fridge temperature steady and store carrots in breathable bags inside the crisper bin. Stable cold slows growth and keeps texture crisp.

How To Check Your Package Step By Step

Grab the bag and note the brand, bag weight, and any printed date. Some packs print a production code along the seal. Cross-check those details with the FDA outbreak page listing the affected sizes and dates. If your store sold bulk carrots by the pound, review your receipt and ask the produce desk which supplier they used during the August–October period.

If The Bag Matches The Recall

Leave it sealed. Put the whole bag in a second bag, tie it, and place it in the trash. Don’t compost it. Wipe the shelf and bin with hot, soapy water, then a kitchen-safe disinfectant. Launder any towels that touched the produce. Wash hands for a full 20 seconds.

If You Already Ate Some

Most healthy adults recover without treatment. Watch for worsening diarrhea, blood in stool, dehydration, or less urination. Kids, older adults, and anyone with a lowered immune response should call a clinician early. If you seek care, mention you ate bagged organic carrots tied to a recall window.

Recall Context: Why People Confuse Labels

Two giants—Grimmway and Bolthouse—sell a large share of U.S. carrots. Retailers also source private-label packs from the same growers. So a recall tied to one supplier can look like a blanket pull when shoppers scan headlines. Agency pages list brands and bag sizes line by line, which lets you sort your fridge without guesswork.

Bolthouse Carrots Recall Guidance For Shoppers

This checklist keeps things tidy and stress-free when you’re staring at a crisper full of bags.

1) Verify

Check brand, bag weight, and dates tied to the 2024 window. Screenshot the label before disposal; it helps with store credits and questions.

2) Dispose

Seal and trash the bag. Double-bag if it leaked. Keep it away from pets.

3) Sanitize

Wash bins, knives, and boards with hot, soapy water. Follow with a disinfecting step on hard surfaces. Rinse and air-dry.

4) Monitor Health

Track symptoms for several days. Hydrate, rest, and seek care if diarrhea turns bloody, if you spike a higher fever, or if urine output drops.

Symptoms And Timing

Illness can start a few days after eating contaminated produce. Early cramps may build to watery or bloody diarrhea. Nausea can show up too. Kids and older adults can get worse quickly. Call for advice if symptoms escalate or linger, and mention the carrot link.

How This Affects Meal Prep And Storage

Carrots keep for weeks when handled right. Rinse only when ready to use, pat dry, and store in vented bags. Keep raw items away from ready-to-eat foods. Use separate boards for produce and meat. If you froze affected carrots before learning about the recall, toss the bag and clean the freezer shelf.

Brands sometimes add fresh items to a recall cluster days later. A quick once-a-week scan of agency pages is a smart habit for shoppers who buy produce in bulk. It takes a minute and saves needless worry.

Was This Label Named In The 2024 Event?

Shoppers keep asking about Bolthouse. Federal outbreak pages didn’t name that label in the late-2024 event, which centered on Grimmway-linked organic bags. If your carrots carry that label and a date in the 2024 window, cross-check anyway. Labels, co-packers, and bag sizes can change through the season.

What To Tell The Store

Be brief and specific: brand, bag size, and use-by date. Add your photo and a receipt if you have it. Most grocers offer a refund or credit on produce recalls. Ask the desk if they want the bag back; many don’t. If the store sent an email or app alert, keep that message for your records.

Extra Safety Notes For Kitchens

Cutting And Peeling

Use a clean board and peeler. Rinse whole carrots under running water before peeling. Dry with a paper towel and toss the towel.

Cooking

Heat knocks down bacteria. Soups, stews, and roasts push carrots well past a safe threshold. If the bag matches a recall, don’t cook it anyway; discard it.

Leftovers

Cool cooked carrot dishes fast in shallow containers. Reheat until steaming. Label with the date so you use them within a few days.

Where The Facts Come From

Agency pages track lots, dates, and case totals in one place. The FDA recall notice lists affected brands and bag sizes. The CDC outbreak page summarizes dates, illnesses, and symptoms to watch.

Keep Your Produce Routine Simple

Stick to a quick rhythm each grocery day: check bags, store cold, and plan to use carrots within a week or two. If you like printed checklists, add carrots to your crisper map and mark weekly cleanouts. Want a deeper kitchen systems read? Try our food storage basics guide.