U.S. Food-Poisoning Outbreak Linked to Alfalfa Sprouts

Health officials in the U.S. have reported a food-poisoning outbreak associated with alfalfa sprouts, affecting individuals in 15 states. State officials noted the outbreak earlier this week, with more than 36 cases documented in Minnesota and Wisconsin. As of Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledged 55 cases nationwide, with four requiring hospitalization.

The CDC has recorded cases in several states, including Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. Interviews conducted with 34 affected individuals revealed that 26 had consumed alfalfa sprouts, as per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This outbreak is unusual as food poisoning outbreaks typically involve a single type of germ. Here, both salmonella and various strains of E. coli, including shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), are implicated. STEC infections may result in stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea and can lead to acute kidney failure, a serious complication.

Salmonella infections can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps.

Officials trace the outbreak back to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts, a Minnesota-based grower. These sprouts were sold under the brands Calco and Everything Sprouts in restaurants and grocery stores. The company has not yet announced a recall, according to the FDA.

Last year, the FDA issued a warning to Everything Sprouts following inspections that raised concerns. Issues included a leaking roof dripping water onto bean sprouts and the condition of workers’ smocks.