Map: Sprouts Recalled After Rare Double-Outbreak Hits 15 States

At least 55 individuals have been reported ill across 15 states due to a dual E. coli and Salmonella outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts, according to U.S. health authorities. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed 46 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, seven of Salmonella, and two instances of both bacteria. Four patients have been hospitalized, with no fatalities reported to date.

The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), joined by state and local entities, are probing the incident following epidemiological data and product traceability, which identified sprouts sold by Everything Sprouts LLC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the likely source. Health inquiries are ongoing as to whether other products or firms might be implicated.

The illnesses have been documented in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin since sprout distribution between May 31 and August 8. The products were marketed under the Calco and Everything Sprouts labels in supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurants, and other food-service establishments.

The FDA advises consumers to abstain from consuming, selling, or serving the implicated sprouts, and to discard or return any affected products to the point of purchase. Surfaces and containers that may have been in contact with the sprouts should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to mitigate the spread of contamination.

The FDA and CDC are conducting interviews with 34 out of 55 affected individuals to ascertain their food consumption habits in the week preceding sickness onset. Of those interviewed, 26 (76 percent) reported eating alfalfa sprouts. Of the two individuals who contracted both Salmonella and E. coli, they are among the 55 cases reported. Both E. coli strains and Salmonella Agona have been implicated in the outbreak.

The FDA initiated an inspection and sample collection at Everything Sprouts on August 19, aiming to ascertain the contamination source and potential involvement of additional products or firms. Previous FDA inspections at the facility in 2022 reportedly revealed roof leaks that led to water seepage onto produce and clean employee attire, as well as a buildup of organic matter on an overhead irrigation hose, though the current outbreak's link to these past findings remains unconfirmed.

Symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection usually manifest within a few days of consuming contaminated food but can take up to nine days. Typical symptoms encompass severe abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Severe cases may progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal kidney failure.

Other complications may involve hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and neurological impairments. Salmonella symptoms typically develop within 12 to 72 hours of consuming contaminated food and generally endure between four and seven days, presenting as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Young children, elderly populations, and those with compromised immune systems bear a higher risk of developing severe Salmonella infections.