Falafel balls (Photo by Anton on Unsplash)

By Joe Kovacs

(ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS) -- The U.S .Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned against the use of frozen falafel balls due to suspicions that they may be contaminated with E. coli O121.

According to the CDC, "Epidemiologic data show that Earth Grown brand frozen falafel sold at ALDI stores may be contaminated with E. coli O121 and may be making people sick."

As of last week, 20 people had been infected with the strain, across six states. Illness reports ranged from July 13, 2022, to September 13, 2022, and the ages of the sick individuals from less than one year old to 71 years, with a median age of 31. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of those affected are female, CDC added.