WASHINGTON, DC — Federal health officials say an outbreak of E. coli and salmonella that has sickened people in 15 states has been tied to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota. The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that the illnesses were linked to alfalfa sprouts distributed by Minneapolis-based Everything Sprouts and sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands.
At least 55 confirmed cases have been identified so far, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and four patients have been hospitalized. The FDA said the illnesses reported nationwide ran from May 31 through Aug. 8. Everything Sprouts later said it was voluntarily recalling certain lots of alfalfa sprouts that could be contaminated with Shiga toxin, which can produce E. coli and salmonella.
What Officials Announced
The FDA said the recalled sprouts were supplied beginning May 27 to third-party distributors and retail grocery stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The company said some of the product came in 5-ounce plastic containers with lids. Everything Sprouts also said it has run daily tests since the outbreak began and has not received any positive lab results.
In a statement, the company said it had not received illness reports involving its alfalfa sprouts. Federal officials, however, said the nationwide outbreak includes 46 E. coli infections, seven salmonella infections and two people who were infected with both illnesses. Minnesota and Wisconsin have reported the highest numbers so far, according to state health departments.
How The Outbreak Spread
State health agencies say the cases were not limited to the Upper Midwest. The Minnesota Department of Health said Thursday it had at least 23 cases tied to alfalfa sprouts between July 8 and Aug. 8, with two hospitalizations. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported at least 17 cases and one hospitalization. Other confirmed states include Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Washington.
Health officials have not said that every case came from the same purchase point, but the FDA said the distribution pattern and the outbreak data point to the sprouts as the likely common source. The illnesses involve two bacteria that can lead to serious stomach and intestinal symptoms. The CDC says E. coli infections linked to Shiga toxin can cause severe cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, while salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
What To Watch Next
Consumers who bought alfalfa sprouts sold under the Everything Sprouts or Calco names should look for the FDA recall notice and check the company’s statement for identifying details on the affected lots. The agency said the sprouts were sent to restaurants and grocery stores, so people may need to ask where the product was purchased if they are unsure. The FDA and CDC continue to track the outbreak and state health departments are updating their case counts.
The sprouts recall comes as another salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, continues to expand, according to the CDC. That separate outbreak has sickened more than 400 people in 32 states. For this alfalfa-sprouts case, federal officials have not announced that the investigation is closed, and more illnesses could still be counted as agencies review reports from hospitals and laboratories.
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