Map: Sprouts Recalled After Rare Double

Key Points:

• At least 55 people across 15 states have fallen ill in a multistate outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts LLC of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with four hospitalizations and no deaths reported.
• The FDA and CDC are investigating the outbreak, which involves multiple strains of E. coli and Salmonella Agona, and are urging consumers, retailers, and restaurants to avoid, discard, or return recalled alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands.
• The FDA began inspecting Everything Sprouts' facility on August 19 and noted prior violations last year, including roof leaks and unsanitary conditions, though it has not confirmed these caused the current outbreak.
• Symptoms of the infections include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting for E. coli, and diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps for Salmonella, with young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals at higher risk of severe illness.
• Sprouts are prone to bacterial contamination due to the warm, moist conditions required for sprouting, and have been linked to 52 foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S. from 1996 to 2020; the FDA continues its investigation and will update the public as new information emerges.