The FDA sent Everything Sprouts a warning letter in 2025, about a year before the company’s alfalfa sprouts and alfalfa sprouts products caused a Salmonella and E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 55 people in 15 states. The letter stated that their mung bean, soybean, and green sprouts products were considered adulterated. Alfalfa sprouts were not specifically mentioned in the warning letter.
The patient case count by state is: Florida (2), Iowa (1), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (21), North Carolina (2), North Dakota (2), New Hampshire (1), New York (2), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (17). Illness onset dates range from May 31, 2026 to August 8, 2026. The patient age range is from 12 to 94 years.
There are three strains of E. coli and one strain of Salmonella sickening people in this outbreak: E. coli O26:H11, E. coli O103:H25, E. coli O168:H8, and Salmonella Agona. Some people are sick with more than just one strain of these pathogens. Forty-six people are sick with E. coli infections, seven are infected with Salmonella, and two are sick with both Salmonella and E. coli infections.
After an inspection that was conducted on November 14, 2024, a Form FDA 483 was issued that required a response. The inspection found that the company did not implement measures to prevent contamination of the produce and food contact surfaces through walls, ceilings, fixtures, ducts, pipes, and condensate.
On October 31, 2024, the investigator observed the roof leaking through the ceiling tiles in the middle of the production room. Water from the leak was observed dripping onto the totes of cooled, exposed mung bean sprouts as pallets were transferred through the area. On November 4, 2024, the investigator observed a roof leak in the warehouse, with water dripping near a rack of clean smocks that were worn by employees directly in contact with covered produce. They also found condensate dripping from the condenser units inside the in-process and finished product coolers storing mung bean sprouts, as well as dripping onto the door frame and into the finished product cooler.
The FDA acknowledged receipt of the company’s responses about its corrective actions, but they were not able to evaluate the adequacy of those actions. The company didn’t include any information that addresses how they will prevent the contamination by preventing the source of the leak from condenser units, or addressing the disrepair of the roof.
In addition, the company did not clean and sanitize food contact surfaces used to grow, harvest, pack, or hold sprouts before contact with the sprouts, seeds, or beans used to grow them. Dripping condensate was observed on the underside of the water supply apparatus on the overhead irrigation system and rails, which passes directly over exposed mung bean sprouts in the growing cabins. The inspector also observed a build up of black organic matter on the hose of the overhead irrigation system used for soy sprouts. And white build up was observed on the interior surfaces elf black plastic sheets enclosing soy sprout growing cabins, which was ripped and improperly repaired with tape, with sprouts adhered to the tape.
The company told the inspector that they rent the building and the landlord would repair the roof as a long term project, but there was no estimated date of repair. The company must ensure compliance with applicable provisions of the Produce Safety Rule.
The FDA investigator also observed that visibly soiled strip curtains separating the mung bean growing and production rooms came in direct contact with harvested mung bean sprouts as they moved between rooms for washing. In addition, the investigator noted flaking paint and visible soil on the motor house and cinder brick walls in the pass-through area between the mung bean growing and production rooms, which is located directly above the conveyor belt that transfers exposed, harvested mung bean sprouts.
The company stated they intend to squeegee condensate, and plug gaps, and that black plastic sheeting will be changed out as needed. The FDA stated that incomplete repairs to gaps and other structural deficiencies within food contact surfaces may create harborage points for pathogens.
