Certain alfalfa sprouts have been recalled amid an outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella infections linked to 55 reported illnesses across 15 states. Everything Sprouts LLC announced the recall on August 22, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) subsequently posted the recall notice to alert the public. Reported illnesses began between May 31 and August 8, with four people hospitalized and no deaths reported as of August 21, according to the FDA.
The investigation remains ongoing. The recall involves products that may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella. It covers specified lots of alfalfa sprouts sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands, as well as certain Everything Sprouts Crunchy Protein Sprout Mix and Zesty Garlic Mix cups.
Consumers are being urged not to eat the affected products but instead throw them away and "carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that the product may have touched." Newsweek has emailed Everything Sprouts for comment. According to the recall notice, the affected products include: The company said it distributed the products between May 27 and August 21 to wholesalers and grocery stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. According to the FDA, the following 15 states have reported illnesses associated with the outbreak linked to recalled alfalfa sprouts: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 46 people have been infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), seven with Salmonella, and two with both pathogens.
Out of the 34 patients that were interviewed, 76 percent said they’d eaten alfalfa sprouts in the weeks before becoming ill. The FDA confirmed that epidemiological evidence—which is evidence gathered by public health investigators—indicates that alfalfa sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts could be contaminated and may be making people sick. Traceback information from restaurants and grocery stores also identified sprouts distributed by the company as a source of illness.
The FDA is still investigating to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products or firms could be linked to illnesses. The FDA and CDC advise consumers not to eat the recalled products, and instead, dispose of them "immediately." Consumers, retailers and food-service operators should also clean and sanitize containers, refrigerators, utensils and other surfaces that may have come into contact with the sprouts to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. People who develop symptoms after eating the products should contact a health care provider.
Common symptoms associated with STEC and Salmonella infections include: Health officials say bloody diarrhea is a particularly important warning sign and should prompt medical advice as soon as possible. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Daniel Orton and Robert Greenall
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