Colorado has been hard hit by a nine-state Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts from Sprouts Extraordinaire of Denver. Thirteen people from Colorado have been sickened in an outbreak that includes 17 others from eight states. Five people have been hospitalized. Some of those sickened reported eating the contaminated sprouts at restaurants, but health officials have not released the names of those establishments. The sprouts, which have been recalled, were sold in 5-pound boxes labeled “Living Alfalfa Sprouts.” Illnesses, which have been linked to two strains -Salmonella Reading and Salmonella Abony, were reported from May 21 to July 20 from case patients who range in age from less than 1 year to 72. The case count by state is as follows: Colorado (13), Kansas (8), … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreaks in Australia and US Highlight Risk of Sprouts
Salmonella outbreaks in the U.S. and Australia highlight the danger of sprouts. In South Australia, 223 people have been sickened with Salmonella St Paul infections after eating bean sprouts. Forty three of them have been hospitalized. In the U.S., a Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts has sickened 13 people in four states, hospitalizing five of them. Sprouts are a known source of food poisoning that have been the source of more than 40 outbreaks over the last 20 years, causing 2,405 illnesses, 171 hospitalizations, and three deaths federal health officials say. Some of these outbreaks were linked to sprouts contaminated with Salmonella, others were linked to sprouts contaminated with E. coli or Listeria. The warm, humid environments with nutrient-rich soils that are ideal … [Read more...]
FDA Joins Salmonella, E. coli “Sproutbreak” Investigations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has join the investigations into the E. coli and Salmonella outbreaks linked to contaminated alfalfa sprouts. The multistate outbreaks, that are unfolding simultaneously, have been linked to sprouts produced by two different companies: Jack and the Green Sprouts of River Falls, Wisconsin. and Sweetwater Farms of Inman, Kansas. Recalls have been issued for alfalfa and onion sprouts sold under these brand names which were distributed to restaurants, grocery stores, co-ops and food service operations. Consumers and customers who have purchased these products should not eat them as E. coli and Salmonella can both cause serious illness. The Salmonella outbreak, linked to Sweetwater alfalfa sprouts, has sickened 13 people in four states. The … [Read more...]
E. coli, Salmonella Spouts Join Long List of Outbreaks, Recalls
Current E. coli and Salmonella outbreaks are the latest additions to a long list of food safety problems linked to to sprouts. Public health officials consider sprouts a known risk, but as dozens of recalls and outbreaks show, the health risk associated with raw sprouts may not clear to consumers. Sprouts have been recalled an average of four times a year since 2012. And since 2006, there have been more than 40 outbreaks linked to sprouts contaminated with Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. Often, the source of the problem is traced to the seeds so washing the sprouts won't eliminate the source of bacteria. The bacteria can actually be inside the seeds, so treatments and washing them does not work. "Given the risks, sprout producers need to be more measured in touting the health … [Read more...]
Salmonella in Sprouts Sickens Five in Kansas
Five people in Kansas are part of Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts from Sweetwater Farms in Inman, Kansas. Consumers who have purchased these sprouts should not eat them as Salmonella can cause serious illness. The outbreak also incldues three illnesses in Missouri, three illnesses in Oklahoma and two illnesses in Pennsylvania. Five of those sickened, who range in age from 18 to 73, have been hospitalized. Health officials used DNA “fingerprinting” tests to identify a total of 13 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Muenchen. During interviews with health officials, those sickened reported eating sprouts or menu items containing sprouts in the week before becoming ill. Nine of them reported eating alfalfa sprouts. One of them identified Sweetwater … [Read more...]
CDC: Salmonella in Alfalfa Spouts Sickens 13 in 4 States
A Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts has sickened at least 13 people in four states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Five people have been hospitalized. Health officials have linked the illnesses to alfalfa sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms has recalled lot 042016 voluntarily, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. State and federal health officials advise consumers not to eat and retailers not to sell or serve alfalfa sprouts from Sweetwater Farms. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection, which include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that can be bloody, usually develop within six to 72 hours of exposure and last about a week. For some people the diarrhea and vomiting can be so severe it causes dehydration, and … [Read more...]
