A multistate salmonella outbreak linked to recalled broccoli sprouts has left at least 22 people across four states unwell, prompting a warning from federal health officials and a recall of products distributed across the Northwest. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday that it is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans infections connected to broccoli sprouts produced by Idaho-based Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC. Twenty-two illnesses have been reported in four states, with two people hospitalized and no deaths recorded.
The CDC says the outbreak investigation remains ongoing. Health officials warned consumers not to eat the recalled sprouts and advised anyone who has purchased them to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. The products were sold to grocery stores, restaurants, food-service customers and food co-ops, meaning additional distribution beyond the originally identified states may have occurred.
The company's raw clover sprouts were linked to a multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O121 infections in 2014, according to the CDC. The outbreak sickened people in multiple states and prompted public health officials to warn consumers against eating certain raw clover sprouts. The CDC ultimately declared the outbreak over later that year.
Food Safety News also reported that Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC was associated with a salmonella outbreak investigation in 2011, making the current outbreak at least the third sprout-related illness event connected to the Idaho producer. Newsweek reached out to Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC via email for comment. The broccoli sprout recall is the latest in a string of food safety alerts that have heightened consumer concern about contamination risks in the U.S. food supply, with recalls and outbreak investigations drawing increased public attention in recent years.
According to the CDC, illnesses have been reported in four states: Idaho, Montana, Utah and Washington. Reported illnesses began between July 7 and August 26. Federal investigators cautioned that the true number of cases is likely higher because many people recover without medical care or testing.
Investigators interviewed 19 people who became ill. All 19 reported eating sprouts in the week before becoming sick, while 17 specifically reported eating broccoli sprouts, evidence the CDC said strongly points to the recalled product as the source of the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 22 people have reported illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans.
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