U.S. health officials are investigating a food-poisoning outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts that has sickened people in 15 states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Friday that it is aware of 55 cases nationally, including four individuals who have been hospitalized.
State officials initially announced the outbreak, reporting more than three dozen cases in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The CDC has since confirmed cases in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington.
Of the 34 sick individuals interviewed by health officials, 26 reported consuming alfalfa sprouts. The outbreak is notable for involving multiple pathogens, including Salmonella and different strains of E. coli, rather than a single type of germ typically seen in such events.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) can cause severe symptoms, including stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea, and can lead to acute kidney failure. Salmonella poisoning typically presents with diarrhea, fever, vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps.
Authorities are tracing the cases to alfalfa sprouts produced by Everything Sprouts, a Minnesota-based company. The sprouts were sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands to restaurants and grocery stores. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that the company has not yet issued a recall.
In the previous year, the FDA had sent a warning letter to Everything Sprouts following inspections that identified several areas of concern. These included a leaking roof that was observed to be dripping water onto bean sprouts and workers' smocks.