Yet Another Outbreak: 4 Hospitalized With Salmonella And E. Coli Linked To This Common Vegetable

Certain alfalfa sprouts, a common vegetable used in salads, on sandwiches, or as a garnish, have been recalled for potentially carrying salmonella and E. coli. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts and sold under the brands Calco and Everything Sprouts at various grocery retails have been recalled. As of press time, the FDA is still working on gathering all necessary distribution information to be able to provide a list of stores and restaurants that used or sold the sprouts.

Sprouts are raw and can be susceptible to foodborne illness. The affected alfalfa sprouts carry Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria, and salmonella. The bacteria were discovered upon tracing certain sprouts from grocery stores and restaurants back to Everything Sprouts LLC; the FDA tested a sampling of Everything Sprouts' alfalfa sprouts on August 19, and the recall was announced on August 22. However, the outbreak has been ongoing for several months — the first reported case was on May 31.

As of press time, 15 states have been impacted by the contaminated sprouts (from west to east: Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida), with 55 total illnesses and four hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported. The most cases have been reported in Minnesota and Wisconsin, with between 17 and 21 cases in each state.

The FDA says anyone who has purchased alfalfa sprouts under the Everything Sprouts or Calco brands should not consume the veggies. Throw them away, or return them to the grocery store for a refund if you're able. E. coli and salmonella, which are common types of food poisoning, share similar symptoms, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. E. coli symptoms can take up to nine days to show while salmonella symptoms typically show within three days. Consult your doctor if you have any symptoms, and have recently consumed alfalfa sprouts. The most recent FDA update was as of August 24, but check the FDA's website; new information may be shared in time.