Alfalfa Sprouts Identified as Source of E.coli and Salmonella Outbreak

Health officials have identified alfalfa sprouts as the source of a multi-state foodborne outbreak of E.coli and salmonella that has sickened at least 17 people in Wisconsin and led to one hospitalization. The contaminated sprouts were distributed by Everything Sprouts and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands.

In neighboring Minnesota, 23 cases of foodborne illnesses have been connected to the same sprout products. Wisconsin health officials are collaborating with Minnesota health authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other states to investigate the outbreak.

Residents are advised to check their homes for the affected alfalfa sprouts and discard them immediately. Those who may have consumed the sprouts are urged to monitor for symptoms of E.coli and salmonella, which can include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), stomach cramps, and a low fever. Severe symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.

This outbreak appears to be regional and is not currently listed on the CDC's outbreak web page. The CDC and FDA are tracking several other ongoing foodborne outbreaks nationwide. These include three separate salmonella outbreaks linked to jalapenos, turtles, and shelled eggs, and one E.coli outbreak associated with frozen blueberries.

The jalapeno outbreak has affected 431 people across 32 states, with 57 hospitalizations. The turtle-related salmonella outbreak has sickened eight people across six states, resulting in three hospitalizations. The outbreak linked to shelled eggs has caused 98 illnesses in 17 states, with 26 hospitalizations. The frozen blueberry E.coli outbreak has resulted in 12 cases and four hospitalizations across two states.

Separately, a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, linked to shredded iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico, has sickened nearly 16,000 people and caused two deaths across 47 states. While federal officials stated the lettuce was the cause, subsequent testing has not identified the cyclospora parasite in lettuce samples from the supplier.