A total of 55 individuals have been infected with E. coli and Salmonella across 15 states, with infections linked to consuming alfalfa sprouts, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Of the 55, 46 were infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), 7 with Salmonella, and two with both pathogens, the FDA said in an Aug. 21 update. There have been four hospitalizations reported, with no deaths.
Minnesota accounted for the majority of infections with 21 cases, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This was followed by Wisconsin with 17 cases. Florida, North Carolina, North Dakota, and New York each had two cases. Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Washington each had one.
According to the CDC, the first infection occurred on May 31, with the most recent case on Aug. 8.
In its update, the FDA said that local and state health officials were interviewing sick people about the food items they ate in the week prior to becoming sick. Of the 37 individuals interviewed, 26 reported having consumed alfalfa sprouts.
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Investigations conducted at grocery stores and restaurants identified alfalfa sprouts distributed by Minnesota-based Everything Sprouts LLC as a source of the illness, the FDA said.
On Wednesday, the agency initiated an inspection at the company and collected product samples as well. The probe aims to determine the source of pathogen contamination in the sprouts, as well as whether additional products and companies are linked to the outbreak.
In an Aug. 21 statement, Everything Sprouts said it was coordinating with the FDA and the CDC to recall certain lots of alfalfa sprouts due to potential contamination with STEC and Salmonella bacteria.
The recall is applicable to Everything Sprouts, Alfalfa, 5 oz. plastic containers with lids that were distributed from May 27 to Aug. 21. The items were shipped to retail grocery stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as certain third-party distributors.
The company “became aware of reports of illnesses from federal and state agencies. During this outbreak we have tested our products daily and have not received any positive lab results,” the statement said.
“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.”
Everything Sprouts clarified that, to date, no reports of illness involving the recalled items have been reported to the business.
According to the company, STEC and Salmonella infections can cause some serious health issues. STEC infections can lead to acute diarrheal illness within a few days of ingesting the bacteria.
While most people recover within a week, those with weakened immune systems may suffer a more severe illness of longer duration. Such individuals may also develop complications that necessitate close medical attention.
Salmonella can sometimes cause fatal infections in frail individuals, the elderly, young children, and people with weakened immune systems.
Healthy individuals typically experience fever, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which can sometimes be bloody. However, in some rare instances, the pathogen may enter the bloodstream and cause more severe illnesses, such as arthritis and arterial infections.
In addition to Everything Sprouts brand alfalfa sprouts, the illness is linked to the company’s Calco-branded sprouts, the CDC said in an Aug. 21 food safety alert.
The CDC asked people who have bought the affected items not to eat them and to throw them away or return the items to the place of purchase. It recommended washing items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the sprouts using a dishwasher or hot, soapy water.
CDC instructed people to call their healthcare provider “right away” in case of symptoms such as diarrhea together with a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, bloody diarrhea, so much vomiting that liquids cannot be kept down, diarrhea for over two days without any improvement, and signs of dehydration.
