Alfalfa Sprouts from Minnesota Company Linked to Multi-State E. coli and Salmonella Outbreak

Federal health officials have issued a warning against consuming alfalfa sprouts produced by a Minnesota-based company following a widespread outbreak of foodborne illnesses affecting multiple states.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating an outbreak involving both E. coli and Salmonella bacteria connected to products from Everything Sprouts. The company has initiated a voluntary recall of certain items sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brand names.

According to health authorities, the outbreak involves several strains of E. coli along with a specific type of Salmonella. As of now, at least 55 individuals across 15 states have fallen ill, with four requiring hospitalization, the FDA confirmed.

Data from the CDC indicates that between May 31 and August 8, 46 people contracted E. coli, seven people were affected by Salmonella, and two individuals were diagnosed with both pathogens. The majority of reported cases have originated from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

This outbreak adds to a challenging summer season marked by other significant foodborne illness clusters, including a Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce and a separate Salmonella outbreak associated with jalapeños that has affected over 300 people nationwide.

Common symptoms of both E. coli and Salmonella infections include diarrhea and fever. However, certain populations face higher risks for severe complications, particularly individuals with compromised immune systems, elderly patients, and children under five years old, according to FDA officials.

In response to the outbreak, Everything Sprouts has advised retailers and distributors to discard all remaining alfalfa sprout products from their inventory.

“We continue to work closely with public health officials to investigate the source of this potential issue and will provide updates as they become available,” the company stated in an official release.

The CDC recommends that consumers dispose of any alfalfa sprouts they may have purchased and thoroughly clean all surfaces that came into contact with the products.

Investigators are working to determine the exact cause of contamination, though food safety experts note that alfalfa sprouts are particularly susceptible to bacterial growth due to the warm, humid conditions required during cultivation.

The presence of multiple E. coli strains in this outbreak is considered unusual, though not without precedent, according to Don Schaffner, chairman of the department of food science at Rutgers University.

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