Alfalfa sprouts linked to reported illnesses from 2 different bacteria

Key Points:

• Minnesota health officials have warned consumers to avoid certain alfalfa sprouts linked to an outbreak involving multiple strains of disease-causing bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella.
• A total of 23 people in Minnesota have fallen ill, with two hospitalizations; cases include infections from different E. coli strains (STEC O168:H8, STEC O103:H25, STEC O26:H11) and salmonella.
• Wisconsin has reported 18 additional illnesses connected to the same alfalfa sprouts, which were produced by Everything Sprouts and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands.
• Investigators from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and federal agencies are collaborating to identify the contamination source and extent, noting the unusual presence of multiple bacterial strains in a single outbreak.
• Experts highlight that alfalfa sprouts are prone to contamination due to the difficulty of cleaning seeds and the warm, moist growing conditions that facilitate bacterial spread; infections can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms and complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome.