The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to bean sprouts produced by Wonton Foods is over, according to the CDC. A total of 115 people in 12 states were infected with the outbreak strain of the bacteria. Twenty-five percent of ill persons were hospitalized, and there were no deaths. No recall was ever announced for the contaminated product.
The number of persons sickened by state is as follows: Connecticut (8), Maine (4), Maryland (6), Massachusetts (36), Montana (1), New Hampshire (6), New York (22), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (18), Rhode Island (7), Vermont (3), and Virginia (1). The person in Montana traveled to the eastern U.S. during the time when exposure likely occurred. Illness onset dates ranged from September 30, 2014 to December 15, 2014. The age range for ill persons was younger than 1 year to 83 years, with a median age of 32 years.
The CDC does mention that raw sprouts are a known source of foodborne illness, so persons in high risk groups should avoid eating them. Healthy people can also get sick after eating sprouts, so think twice before you eat them. Most of the ill persons interviewed in this outbreak ate bean sprouts at Asian-style food service establishments.
There were five clusters of illnesses in three states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Among the patients who were part of these clusters, all consumed menu items that contained bean sprouts when dining out in restaurants. The FDA also investigated this outbreak, since the bean sprouts fall under their jurisdiction. That agency recommends that consumers cook sprouts thoroughly to kill any bacteria.
Traceback investigations discovered that all of the probable sources for the bean sprouts received bean sprouts from Wonton Foods of Brooklyn, New York. Wonton Foods was the only supplier common to all of the restaurants in question and was the sole supplier of bean sprouts to at least two of these restaurants.
Wonton foods agreed to destroy any remaining products while they cleaned and sanitized their facility and implemented other Salmonella control measures. Contaminated bean sprouts produced by Wonton Foods are likely no longer available for purchase or consumption since they have only a 12 day shelf life.
If you consumed raw sprouts and have experienced the symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning, which include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains, and blood in the stool, see your doctor. Long term complications of this infection can include reactive arthritis, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
