No E. coli found in organic carrots in UAE, confirms ministry

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCE) has confirmed that there are no organic carrots with E. coli bacteria in UAE markets. The Ministry made this announcement on Friday after reports about an E. coli outbreak in the United States.

The Ministry worked with local food safety officials to ensure that no carrots contaminated with E. coli O121:H19 are being sold in the UAE. They promised to continue checking food in the market to make sure it is safe and meets health rules.

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This announcement followed a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. and other health officials, who started looking into an E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots. The problem began when Grimmway Farms, a company in the U.S., recalled some types of organic carrots on November 16, 2024.

By November 22, the CDC reported 39 cases of E. coli across 18 states in the U.S., with one death and 15 people hospitalized. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in the UAE wanted to make sure people knew there are no such carrots in the UAE.

E. coli (Escherichia coli) is a kind of bacteria found in the intestines of animals and humans. Most types of E. coli are harmless, but some can cause serious illness. Symptoms of infection include stomach pain, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), fever, and vomiting. In very bad cases, it can cause kidney problems, especially in children or older people.

People can get sick from E. coli by eating food or drinking water that is contaminated. It is important to wash fruits and vegetables well and cook meat properly. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has assured everyone that they are working hard to make sure the food in the UAE markets is safe to eat.