More than a dozen brands of bags of organic whole and baby carrots in have been recalled for a potential E. coli contamination.

California-based Grimmway Farms is at the center of the ongoing recall, issued Saturday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who said the outbreak has affected 18 states across the country.

The carrots should "no longer be in grocery stores but may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers," the company said.

As of Monday, 39 cases have been identified, with 15 hospitalizations and one death among the cases identified so far, according to figures from the CDC. 

“We take our role in ensuring the safety and quality of our products seriously,” Grimmway Farms President and CEO Jeff Huckaby said in a press release. “The health of our customers and the integrity of our products are our highest priorities, and we are conducting a thorough review of our growing, harvest, and processing practices.”

Here's what to know about the recall.

Which Grimmway Farms products are affected?

The Grimmway Farms organic carrots are from multiple brands sold in various stores across the country. Although they are likely no longer sold in stores, they could still be found in people’s fridges.

Here's a list of the recalled organic whole carrots, which were sold between Aug. 14 and Oct. 23, and do not have best-if-used-by dates:

Here's a list of recalled cut and peeled organic baby carrots, with bag sizes and best-if-used-by dates:

What should you do with recalled products?

In its press release, the CDC advises people not to eat the carrots covered in the recall. The agency further encourages customers to check their refrigerators and to throw away any products affected by the recall.

For other items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled carrots, the CDC says to wash them using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Where are E. coli cases in the U.S.?

What is Grimmway Farms?

Grimmway Farms was started in the 1960s by the Grimm brothers, according to the company's website, who opened a roadside produce stand in Anaheim, California, and sold corn to the local community.

By 1969, Rod and Bob Grimm incorporated their partnership and began doing business as Grimmway Farms. In 1990, the popularity of the baby carrot disrupted the produce industry and became trendy for consumers who desired value-added vegetables and healthy snacking, according to the grower. From 1991-2001, Grimmway Farms acquired several brands to expand its carrot and produce empire.

The company has previously issued recalls, most recently in 2021, when select carrot products were possibly contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses were reported during this recall, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"The recall was initiated as a result of a routine, internal company test," Huckaby said in July 2021. “The health of our customers and the integrity of our products are our highest priorities, and we will continue to monitor and communicate as additional information is available.”

Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.