You shouldn't put raw alfalfa sprouts on your sandwich right now. Federal health agencies just tied a sprawling, multi-pathogen food poisoning outbreak to alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts.
Fifty-five people across fifteen states are sick. Four people are in the hospital. Two unlucky individuals caught both salmonella and E. coli at the exact same time. Learn more on a connected subject: this related article.
The affected greens were sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands to grocery stores and restaurants. If you have them in your fridge, throw them away immediately.
The Problem With Sprouting
Sprouts are a food safety nightmare. It isn't a secret. Anyone who has studied foodborne illness knows that alfalfa sprouts are high-risk produce. More journalism by National Institutes of Health delves into comparable views on the subject.
Seeds need warmth and moisture to grow. Those exact environmental conditions happen to be a breeding ground for bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. The bacteria live on the seed coat. When you water the seeds to sprout them, the bacteria multiply rapidly.
Washing doesn't fix it. The bacteria get trapped inside or on the delicate plant tissues. You cannot simply rinse them off.
This latest outbreak features multiple strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli alongside salmonella. Illnesses started popping up as early as late May and continued into August. Affected states stretch from Washington and North Dakota down to Florida and North Carolina.
Regulatory Warnings Were Ignored
Inspectors flagged problems at the source long before this outbreak hit headlines.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter to Everything Sprouts after past facility inspections. Inspectors found alarming violations. A leaking roof dripped water directly onto bean sprouts and workers' clothing.
When basic facility maintenance fails, contamination follows. Yet the company initially dragged its feet on issuing a comprehensive recall while public health officials scrambled to warn consumers.
Know the Symptoms
Food poisoning from this outbreak isn't a mild stomach ache. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli triggers severe abdominal cramps, violent vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. It can escalate into hemolytic uremic syndrome, a dangerous kidney complication requiring urgent medical intervention.
Salmonella brings its own misery. Expect soaring fevers, severe dehydration, and relentless vomiting.
Check your fridge. Check restaurant menus. If you ordered a salad or a wrap containing raw alfalfa sprouts recently, monitor how you feel.
Call a doctor right away if your fever tops 102 degrees, your diarrhea lasts more than two days, or you experience signs of dehydration like dizziness and an inability to keep fluids down.
Stop eating raw alfalfa sprouts. Wash down any cutting boards, counters, or refrigerator bins that touched the greens with hot soapy water. Skip the garnish until this outbreak clears.
