Grimmway Farms class action claims co. responsible for E. coli in carrots

Grimmway Farms class action overview:

• Who: A South Carolina woman sued Grimmway Farms.
• Why: She claims the company failed to warn customers that its carrots could be contaminated with E. coli.
• Where: The Grimmway Farms class action was filed in a California federal court.

A South Carolina woman hit Grimmway Farms with a class action lawsuit alleging the company sold carrot products contaminated with E. coli bacteria that sickened her and her baby.

Plaintiff Emily Allegretti filed the class action complaint against Grimmway Enterprises Inc. Nov. 27 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

The lawsuit comes weeks after Grimmway Farms issued two large-scale carrot recalls across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico as U.S. food safety watchdogs announced an investigation into a fatal outbreak of E. coli infections.

The investigation came amid a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121:H19 infections linked to the company’s organic whole and baby carrots. As of Nov. 22, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration recorded 39 illnesses, 15 hospitalizations and one death in relation to the outbreak.

Allegretti claims she and her infant daughter fell ill shortly after consuming the carrots, experiencing symptoms consistent with an E. coli infection. 

Grimmway failed to disclose the E. coli in carrots risk, lawsuit alleges

E. coli O121:H19, the strain implicated in the outbreak, can cause severe symptoms, including stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Vulnerable groups include young children, older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems, the recall and lawsuit state.

Allegretti alleges Grimmway failed to disclose the E. coli in carrots contamination risk on its product packaging or advertising. She claims she would not have purchased the carrots had she known they posed a danger. 

“Consumers expect the food they purchase to be safe for consumption and not contaminated by harmful bacteria,” the lawsuit states.

As a result, Allegretti is looking to represent anyone who bought the recalled carrots nationwide. 

She is suing for breach of warranty, negligence and unjust enrichment and is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

What do you think of the allegations in this Grimmway Farms class action? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by John C. Bohren of Yanni Law APC and Paul J. Doolittle of Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo LLC.

The Grimmway Farms class action is Emily Allegretti v. Grimmway Enterprises Inc.. Case No. 1:24-cv-01454-CDB in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

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