Alfalfa sprouts linked to multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak

A multistate outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella has been linked to certain alfalfa sprouts in the United States, resulting in 55 reported illnesses across 15 states. The outbreak has led to a recall of alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands, produced by a Minneapolis-based grower.

Wild About Sprouts, a brand under the parent company RäFoods, has issued a statement clarifying that its products are not involved in the current outbreak, recall, or FDA advisory. The company highlighted its patented COLD-GROWN® process, designed to mitigate pathogen risks, noting that it has not had a product recall since its commercial launch in 2016.

Federal food safety officials have documented 52 outbreaks linked to sprouts in the U.S. between 1996 and 2020, causing over 2,700 illnesses. Experts note that the warm, moist conditions required for sprouting can facilitate the rapid multiplication of bacteria found on seeds, which are often consumed raw without a heat-based kill step.