Food Poisoning Law Blog : Food Poisoning Lawyer & Attorney : PritzkerLaw : Food Safety, Outbreaks & Recalls

The same week our Salmonella attorneys won a large settlement for victims of a 2010 Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts, we learned of another Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts, this time Evergreen Produce brand sprouts.

This new outbreak continues to grow:

From April 12 to July 5, a total of 25 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 5 states: Idaho (3), Montana (10), New Jersey (1), North Dakota (1) and Washington (10). Results of the investigation indicate a link to eating alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts manufactured by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC of Moyie Springs, Idaho.

The sprouts Salmonella outbreak prompted  Evergreen Fresh Sprouts to recall certain lots of alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled sprouts were distributed in Washington and Idaho by direct delivery to four distributors and three retail stores and could have ended up in restaurants and supermarkets in those areas and neighboring states. Contaminated products may still be in grocery stores and in consumers’ homes.

The recalled products are coded with Expiration Dates from 06 22 through 07 14. The products being recalled are identified as:

• Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 4 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00103 7.
• Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 16 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00108 2.
• Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 5 lb. bag, no UPC.
• Spicy Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 4 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00102 0.
• Spicy Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 16 oz. or 5 lb. bag, no UPC.

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Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC announced a voluntary recall of Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts because the sprouts have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled sprouts have been linked to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections.

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CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts.  Investigators are using DNA analysis of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak.

If you are part of this outbreak, you may have a claim against Evergreen Produce and others. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation.

As of June 27, 2011, a total of 21 persons with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 5 states: Idaho (3), Montana (7), North Dakota (1), New Jersey (1) and Washington (9). Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began between April 12 and June 7, 2011. Ill persons range in age from 12 years to 77 years old, with a median age of 35 years old. Seventy-one percent are female. Among the 10 ill persons with available information, 3 (30%) persons have been hospitalized.

The CDC, FDA and state health officials are continuing surveillance to identify new cases and trace potentially contaminated products.

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The FDA is warning consumers not to eat certain Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts because they may contain Salmonella Enteritidis. The possibly contaminated alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts are sold in plastic bags labeled “Evergreen Produce” or “Evergreen Produce Inc.” They are packaged in 4-ounce and 16-ounce plastic bags with pre-printed labels and are also packaged in 1-pound and 5-pound plastic bags with stick-on labels. The spicy sprouts are packaged in 4-ounce plastic bags with pre-printed labels and 1-pound plastic bags with stick-on labels.

The FDA Evergreen Produce sprouts warning was prompted by a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 20 people in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State. Several people sickened in the outbreak ate Evergreen Produce alfalfa sprouts before getting sick.

Pritzker Olsen attorneys recently settled several cases involving a restaurant chain that served contaminated sprouts.  They represent Salmonella victims throughout the United States.

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Nineteen people in Northern Idaho, Eastern Washington and Western Montana are part  of a Salmonella outbreak associated with alfalfa sprouts traced to Evergreen Produce, located in Moyie Springs, Idaho.

Idaho public health officials are recommending that people avoid eating sprouts from Evergreen Produce and discard any Evergreen Produce sprouts in their possession while the investigation is ongoing.

Our lawyers have won money for Salmonella victims sickened by contaminated alfalfa sprouts in other outbreaks. Our lead attorney for these cases is Fred Pritzker.

In these cases, victims may have claims against growers, distributors, retailers and restaurants, depending on the facts. These claims are called personal injury claims, and include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.  If the Salmonella victim dies, the family may have a wrongful death claim against responsible parties.

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The Jimmy John's Salmonella outbreak in Illinois and 25 other states has sickened 140 individuals since November 1, 2010, according to the final update on the outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results of the federal investigation indicated a link to eating Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts at Jimmy John's restaurant outlets.

Exactly half of the 140 illnesses were in Illinois, the state where Jimmy John's and Tiny Greens are based. Twenty-three cases were from Missouri, 13 from Indiana and four were from Wisconsin. The other states and the District of Columbia had one or two each.

The outbreak strain of Salmonella serotype  I 4,[5],12:i:-  was not found in any sprouts, but it was found in a sample of water run-off at Tiny Greens' growing facility.  Case-patients range in age from 1 to 85 years-old, with a median age of 28 years-old. Eighty-seven patients, or 63 percent, are female. Among persons with available information, 24 percent reported being hospitalized. No deaths were reported. 

If you or a loved one is a confirmed case patient of this outbreak, your questions about a possible sprouts Salmonella lawsuit can be answered by an attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation. PritzkerOlsen is representing victims from this outbreak, including an Illinois women who ate at Jimmy John's and became hospitalized from her illness.

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Sprout growner Tiny Greens of Urbana, Illinois, was inspected by the FDA after alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts sold to Jimmy John's and elsewhere were implicated in a multi-state Salmonella outbreak that started late last year. The sprouts Salmonella outbreak has sickened more than 125 people in 22 states and Washington, D.C.

FDA investigators observed unsafe plant conditions, including many employee movements that could potentially cross-contaminated the plant with harmful bacteria. In addition, testing found the outbreak strain of Salmonella in pooled run-off water draining from an outdoor compost pile. The FDA report said an employee wearing a red hooded sweatshirt was seen dumping production waste into the compost pile before returning to the production area wearing the same clothing. The report said the company grew sprouts in "soil from the organic material decomposed outside" without using any monitored "kill step" to neutralize bacteria.

Here's a quick summary of some of the other observations at the Tiny Greens plant:

• There was a pet "amphibian/reptile'' in the  reception area of the firm.
• "Biofilm-like material'' was built up around a plastic brace on a sprouting tray.
• There were rough welds, organic matter buildup and perforations on the food contact surface of a stainless steel table used to package alfalfa sprouts.  Sprouts are dumped  directly onto the table to  be placed in  packaging.
• Mold-like formations were seen on the walls and up in the ceiling above the mung bean sprouting room.
• The firm's microbiological testing was observed as "not adequate to monitor pathogen contamination.'' 

Salmonella lawyer Fred Pritzker is representing victims of the sprouts Salmonella outbreak, including a woman from Illinois who was hospitalized for several days with a Salmonella infection contracted after eating alfalfa sprouts on a Jimmy John's sandwich. Mr. Pritzker, who is a leading national  foodborne illness attorney, is continuing to accept new cases from this outbreak and can be at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). If you prefer to contact Mr. Pritzker electronically, please complete our online contact form .

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The Salmonella sprouts outbreak associated with clover sprouts from Sprouters Northwest prompted an FDA inspection that noted eight areas of observational concern about the cleanliness and condition of equipment and facilities.

According to a copy of Form 483 completed by the team of five FDA inspectors, problems they observed ranged from leaky roof, rodent harborage, food buildup on equipment, potential cross-contamination of sprout bins and the presence of Listeria monocytogenes on a production table.

Sprouters Northwest Inc. of Kent, Washington, recalled all clover and clover mix products because they had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The sprouts were associated with at least 7 illnesses in Washington and Oregon. In addition, Wal-Mart of British Columbia, Canada, also has recalled Sprouters Northwest brand Deli Sprouts in conjunction with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The company's recall included clover sprouts, Brocco sandwich sprouts, Deli sprouts, clover onion sprouts and Spicy sprouts.

The observations of concern as listed in the report were backed up by specific examples, but here are the 8 overall observations: 

• Failure to take necessary precautions to protect against contamination of food and food contact surfaces with microorganisms and foreign substances.
• Failure to clean food-contact surfaces as frequently as necessary to protect against contamination of food.
• Failure to clean non-food-contact surfaces of equipment as frequently as necessary to protect against contamination.
• Effective measures are not being taken to protect against the contamination of food on the premises by pests.
• Failure to store equipment, remove litter and cut weeds that may be an attractant to pests. 
• Failure to maintain buildings, fixtures and other facilities in sanitary condition.
• Failure to hold raw material in bulk in suitable containers.
• Failure to maintain buildings and physical facilities in repair sufficient to prevent food from becoming adulterated.

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The Tiny Greens Salmonella outbreak linked to sprouts and associated with Jimmy John's has hit hardest in Illinois, Missouri and Indiana. That's where 99 of the 125 confirmed illnesses have occurred according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The outbreak strain of Salmonella has infected 65 in Illinois, 22 in Missouri and 12 in Indiana. Overall, the outbreak has been detected in 22 states and the District of Columbia, but no other state has reported more than 3 cases.

Public health and regulatory agencies have linked this outbreak to consumption of Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts. The sprouts were distributed to various customers, including farmers’ markets, restaurants, and groceries in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri and may also have been distributed to other Midwestern states.

In Illinois, many of the ill individuals ate sandwiches containing sprouts at various Jimmy John’s outlets in at least nine counties. FDA and the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted an inspection of Tiny Greens Organic Farm in Urbana, Illinois. Thus far, one water run-off sample yielded the Salmonella outbreak strain.

A public claims center for this Tiny Greens and Jimmy John's Salmonella sprouts outbreak has been established by national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A. for a sprouts lawsuit on behalf of those who have been sickened.  A full analysis of your case and further investigation is necessary to determine the parties that you have a right to sue and how much your case is worth. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or contact us online. 

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The sprout Salmonella outbreak linked to consumption of Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts peaked in late November and early December but new cases have continued to be confirmed by medical professionals and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

From November 1, 2010, through January 11, 2011, 125 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-,  have been reported from 22 states and the District of Columbia -- that's up from 18 states in the previous CDC report. CDC said results of the investigation indicate a link to eating Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets.

At Tiny Greens in Urbana, Illinois, FDA testing of a water run-off sample found the Salmonella outbreak strain of bacteria. Based on all information, CDC continues to warn that consumers should not eat recalled Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts, and restaurant and food service operators should not serve them. 

Individuals sickened in this outbreak in Illinois and elsewhere may be interested in becoming part of a sprouts Salmonella lawsuit or Jimmy John's lawsuit. Outbreak attorneys at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., currently represent victims and are continuing to accept new cases. Get a free consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing our contact form for Salmonella claims. Our law firm has collected millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation.

More than 20 percent of the victims in this Jimmy John's Salmonella outbreak linked to Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts have been hospitalized for treatment after suffering painful diarrhea. Some Salmonella infections develop into life-threatening illness, but no one has died in this outbreak. A potential risk for victims is developing arterial infections, reactive arthritis, which also is known as Reiter's Syndrome. 

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Salmonella outbreak investigations are active involving alfalfa sprouts in 18 states and clover sprouts in the Northwest.

Sprouters Northwest, Inc. of Kent, Washington, has recalled all clover and clover mix products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The sprouts have been associated with at least six illnesses in Washington and Oregon and Wal-Mart of British Columbia, Canada, also has recalled Sprouters Northwest brand Deli Sprouts in conjunction with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The company's recall includes clover sprouts, Brocco sandwich sprouts, Deli sprouts, clover onion sprouts and Spicy sprouts.

Sprouters Northwest suspended production while FDA, other agencies and the company itself investigate the source of the problem. No deaths have been reported, though Salmonella is potentially lethal, especially in young children, the elderly and others who have compromised immune systems.

In the Midwest, Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Illinois, announced a recall late last year in connection with an 18-state Salmonella outbreak also impacting Washington, D.C. At least 112 people have been sickened, including more than 20 percent hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that results of the Salmonella outbreak investigation in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and beyond indicate a link to eating Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets. Meanwhile, Jimmy John's is quoted in a food industry trade magazine saying its corporate stores are switching from serving alfalfa sprouts to clover sprouts and is urging franchisees to do the same. Are they not aware of the clover sprouts Salmonella outbreak in the Northwest?

Both of these Salmonella outbreaks, sprouts related, are under investigation by PritzkerOlsen, P.A., and the firm is representing an Illinois woman who was hospitalized with Salmonella infection for nearly a week after eating sprouts from Jimmy John's. If you have been sickened in either one of these outbreaks, contact a Salmonella attorney at the firm to inquire about a sprouts Salmonella lawsuit. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our Salmonella outbreak contact form. Our firm has collected millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and we are one of the few law groups in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation.

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As in Illinois, Jimmy John's restaurants have voluntarily suspended serving sprouts at their Indiana franchise locations, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Indiana enteric epidemiologist Amie May said in the same press release that people should not eat Tiny Greens brand Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts, which have been recalled.

Indiana is the third leading state in the number of confirmed Salmonella outbreak cases in an 18-state spread of illness that started November 1 and has been associated with Tiny Greens sprouts served on sandwiches at Jimmy John's. Illinois and Missouri have the most cases. Indiana is among the states working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA to further investigate and track the outbreak.

Salmonella law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., represents victims from this outbreak and is providing free case consultations to individuals and families who became sick after eating alfalfa sprouts on a Jimmy John's sandwich. Our firm is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and has recovered millions for victims of food poisoning. A Salmonella lawyer can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or you can contact the firm online. 

From the CDC, here is the latest case count map. The number of ill persons identified in each state and the District of Columbia with the outbreak strain is as follows: California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (59), Indiana (10), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (2), Missouri (22), New York (1), Pennsylvania (3), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3). Among 111 persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from November 1 to December 24, 2010. Among persons with available information, 24% reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. 

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 Illinois and Missouri account for 81 of 112 confirmed Salmonella illnesses in an outbreak where results of the investigation indicate a link to eating Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets.

The sprouts Salmonella outbreak spreads across 18 states and the District of Columbia, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No deaths have been reported, but more than 20 percent of victims have been treated at a hospital. Seventy-five patients, or 68 percent, are female and the ages of case patients range from 1 to 75 years old. 

In Missouri, the Department of Health and Senior Services was notified of the outbreak in late December by the FDA. Just before Christmas, there were 16 Missouri cases occurring in Franklin, St. Charles, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Louis Counties, and in Kansas City. The CDC update said the number of Missouri residents sickened with the same strain of Salmonella has since jumped to 22.

Tiny Greens and Jimmy John's are both based in Illinois, where the Illinois Department of Public Health initially announced the outbreak on December 17. The first known onset of illness in the outbreak was on November 1. The CDC currently counts 59 illnesses in Illinois. 

For information about a Jimmy John's Salmonella lawsuit contact law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form for a free case consultation. Firm president and founder Fred Pritzker is representing a woman from Illinois who was hospitalized for several days with a Salmonella infection contracted after eating alfalfa sprouts on a Jimmy John's sandwich. Our attorneys represent food poisoning victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness. We are a recognized leader in Salmonella litigation and have collected millions of dollars for those sickened by contaminated food.

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Jimmy John's is based in Illinois but the Salmonella sprouts investigation that began there now extends well beyond Illinois' borders. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have reported a total of 89 individuals with a matching strain of Salmonella type I 4,(5), 12:i:-. To date, only Jimmy John's restaurants in Illinois have been reported as associated with this outbreak.

Jimmy John's has confirmed the Salmonella outbreak investigation and pulled sprouts from menus in Illinois. The illnesses began November 1 and the onset of the most recent case was December 21. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said preliminary results of the investigation indicate a link to eating alfalfa sprouts at a national sandwich chain. Illinois, Missouri and Indiana are the leading states.

This multi-state outbreak of Salmonella associated with sprouts at Jimmy John's is also under investigation by law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., and a claims center for members of the public can be contacted at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or via the contact form on the side of this Web page. A Jimmy John's lawsuit likely will result, but liability could extend to the producer of any contaminated sprouts. 

According to the CDC, since 1996, there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E. coli.

The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: Illinois (5), Missouri (14) Indiana (9) Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1),  Massachusetts (1),  New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3). The Food and Drug Administration is helping CDC track the source of the outbreak using genetic fingerprint testing of food samples.

CDC says case-patients range in age from 1 to 75 years, with a median age of 28. Sixty-eight percent of patients are female. Among persons with available information, 23% reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

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A multistate Salmonella serotype Newport outbreak is being investigated in connection with raw alfalfa sprouts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is conducting the investigation in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The outbreak has so far sickened 28 people with matching strains of this type of Salmonella infection in 10 different states. Victims range in age from younger than one year old to 75 years old and 32 is the median age. Cases are distributed throughout the ten states as follows: AZ (2), CA (14), CO (1), ID (3), IL (1), MO (1), NM (1), NV (2), OR (1), and WI (2)

According to the CDC announcement:

"Interviews of case-patients found that most reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts before becoming ill. Some case-patients reported eating sprouts at restaurants; others purchased sprouts at grocery stores. The initial investigation traced the implicated raw alfalfa sprouts to a single sprout processor in California. Investigations are currently ongoing at the sprout processor."

Because of Salmonella contamination concerns, a raw alfalfa sprouts recall was announced by Caldwell Fresh Foods on May 21. The recalled sprouts were sold under several brand names and were sold at 400 Walmart stores in 15 states.They were also sold at Trader Joe's

Safe Consumption of Sprouts: Avoid Food Poisoning

Health officials advise that children, pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and the elderly NOT CONSUME raw sprouts, as they can be a particular risky source of bacteria due to the warm, moist environments in which they are grown. This includes other types of sprouts in addition to alfalfa sprouts, such as mung bean sprouts, clover sprouts and radish sprouts. Cooking the sprouts makes them safer to eat because it can kill potentially harmful bacteria such as Salmonella.

Consumers can also protect themselves by requesting that raw sprouts NOT be added to dishes in restaurants or delis.

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A Salmonella outbreak associated with Caldwell Fresh Foods alfalfa sprouts has so far sickened 20 in 10 states and hospitalized four, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.

Caldwell Fresh Foods has recalled the following products, which include two other brand names:

• Caldwell Fresh Foods - 4-ounce plastic cups and one pound plastic bags, and 2-pound and 5 pound plastic bags in cardboard boxes with sticker affixed with the printed words Caldwell Fresh Foods.
• Nature's Choice - 4-ounce plastic cups
• California Exotics brands - 5-ounce plastic clamshell containers
• SOLD AT: Various delis and retailers nationwide. In California, locations include: Kings Super Market, Numero Uno Stores, Cárdenas Markets, Trader Joe's Stores, Gonzalez Northgate Markets, Wal-Mart stores Jons Markets, and Canton Foods

Sprouts Contaminated with Salmonella

Sprouted seeds, typically from plants like alfalfa or mung beans, are grown in moist, warm environments where harmful pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli can thrive. In fact, Salmonella outbreaks in the past have been associated with sprouts.

The risk of contamination for sprouts can be so high, in fact, that according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

"The FDA currently advises all consumers to cook sprouts before eating them. And it recommends that the young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems should not eat sprouts."

The food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen law firm have represented victims of Salmonella food poisoning from many types of foods, including peanut butter and pepper. Anyone who suspects they may be sick with salmonella food poisoning should see a doctor immediately and be tested for the pathogen.

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A food company based in Ionia, Michigan, has pulled its sprouts from the market in response to the state's investigation of a sprouts Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least twelve people.

Lansing television station WLNS is reporting that Living Foods Inc. took the action even though lab tests have failed to positively link its sprouts to the outbreak. The sprout outbreak started earlier this month and hit in seven Michigan counties: Bay, Genesee, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne.

The sprouts have sell-by dates of October 22 or earlier. They had been distributed to retail stores and foodservice accounts.If you have health concerns after eating Living Foods sprouts, see a physician immediately. To protect your legal rights, contact a national food safety lawyer at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). We are currently representing Salmonella victims and our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. To receive a free case consultation online, please complete our contact and information form.

The Michigan outbreak of Salmonella from sprouts prompted the state Department of Community Health to issue a health advisory late last week against consumption of any raw alfalfa sprouts until more could be learned about the source of the outbreak. There was no update of that advisory on Tuesday, nor did state health officials issue any press release about the voluntary recall by Living Foods.

Most healthy adults don't need medical attention for a Salmonella infection, but the bacteria can cause severe illness and death in young children, older adults, some cancer patients and others whose immune systems are weakened.

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 Two Michigan residents have been hospitalized and 10 others sickened in a MI Salmonella Sprouts outbreak that has prompted a public health warning.

State and local health and agriculture officials are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the precise source of the sprouts Salmonellosis outbreak.

The Michigan Department of Community Health said the illness onset dates have ranged from August 17 to September 18, 2009. The confirmed sprouts Salmonella cases have been spread over seven counties: Bay, Genesee, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for the state health department, issued a recommendation that people, especially young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, avoid consumption of raw alfalfa sprouts until more is known about the source.

If you or someone you love has been sickened in this Michigan sprouts outbreak, see a physician immediately. To protect your legal rights, contact national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). For years our firm has been a national leader in representing victims of food poisoning and our top lawyers are frequently sought out for expert commentary by the media and by large groups, including food industry convention gatherings.

To contact a Salmonella lawyer online, complete our contact form and receive a free case consultation. If we agree to take your case, we don' t get paid unless you win. Over the years, our firm has recovered tens of millions for victims of food poisoning.

Sprouts are always an iffy proposition from a food safety perspective because there are multiple risk factors. If pathogenic bacteria are present in or on the seed when sprouts are planted, the organisms can stick with the plants. In addition, the warm and humid conditions required to grow sprouts are ideal for the rapid growth of the microbes. Thirdly, poor hygiene in production plants can give rise to Salmonella, or E. coli O157:H7 in sprouts.

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Officials investigating a widely dispersed outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul first focused on a single grower of alfalfa sprouts in Nebraska before fanning out and finding matching Salmonella contamination at sprout growers in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In the end, federal authorities determined that all the growers received contaminated seeds that traced back to a single seed grower in Italy. Preliminary details of the investigation were released this week in a news release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC, along with the Food and Drug Administration, continue to warn Americans not to eat raw alfalfa sprouts.

Since the outbreak began in early February, the outbreak had sickened 228 people in 13 states. About 4 percent of victims have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported, the press release said.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen represents victims in this outbreak and is currently accepting additional cases from every state involved. The firm has considerable experience and a reputation for success in representing survivors of foodborne illness. Fred Pritzker and members of his firm are frequent guests and commentators about food safety issues and have been interviewed by and profiled in a number of media sources including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and CNN.

To contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or write to us online for a free case consultation.

State by State

Overall, the numbers of confirmed cases by state look like this: Nebraska (110 cases), Iowa (35), South Dakota (35), Michigan (18), Kansas (8), Pennsylvania (7), Minnesota (5), Ohio (3), Illinois (2), West Virginia (2), Florida (1), North Carolina (1) and Utah (1) .

The CDC report said regulators are still checking the degree to which the various sprout growers  appropriately and consistently implemented FDA recommendations to protect against pathogens in sprouts. The guidelines, issued in 1995, include seed disinfection and tests of water used to grow sprouts.

The report said alfalfa seeds could become contaminated in several ways, although the exact method is unknown. Possible methods include pre-harvest contamination from use of contaminated water, the use of improperly composted manure as fertilizer, fecal contamination from domestic or wild animals and runoff from animal production facilities.

"Alfalfa seeds are produced for agricultural use, and might not be processed, handled, and stored under conditions appropriate for human food,'' the report said. Preventing seed contamination is vital because the conditions suitable for growing sprouts are also ideal for increasing counts of bacteria that might be present on seeds, the report said.

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Alfalfa seeds from Italy have been associate with a multistate Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak. After preliminary epidemiology regarding the ongoing outbreak of illness from Salmonella Saintpaul in people who had eaten alfalfa sprouts was shared with the supplier of the seeds, the supplier made the decision to voluntarily withdraw certain alfalfa seeds from the market.  According to an FDA alert, the recalled alfalfa seeds include the following:

[Seeds] in 50-pound white bags that are either paper or woven from a synthetic material, and the lot numbers in question begin with “032,” followed by a hyphen and three more digits. The bags carry a computer-generated white or yellow label, on which is printed “Distributed by Caudill Seed Company., 1402 W. Main St., Louisville KY 40203” and the lot number.

CDC Alfalfa Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak Information

CDC is providing updated information on the alfalfa sprouts Salmonella outbreak.  Here is the most recent information from the CDC (last modified April 27):

Since mid-March, 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul have been reported from 7 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Michigan (17), Minnesota (4), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (6), South Dakota (2), Utah (1), and West Virginia (2). Cases are still being reported, and possible cases are in various stages of laboratory testing, so illnesses may be reported from other states. No deaths have been reported.

FDA Recommendations for Growers and Retailers

The FDA alert to growers, retailers and other businesses regarding the alfalfa seed recall provides recommendations for businesses:

Retailers, restaurateurs, and personnel at other food-service facilities should ask their suppliers to verify that the alfalfa sprouts or seeds being provided do not come from an affected lot before buying or serving them. Suppliers who can verify that their products were not sourced from the affected lots may wish to notify their customers; likewise, retailers, restaurateurs, and food-service facilities who have verified the sources of their alfalfa products may wish to notify their customers.
Seeds from the affected lots, lot numbers beginning with 032, and sprouts grown from them, should be safely discarded, as should other products that contain the sprouts, such as sprout blends.

Growers who have used seeds from the potentially contaminated lots should clean all equipment and other surfaces that came into contact with them. They should also safely discard any water that came into contact with the sprouts, and disinfect receptacles or equipment that came into contact with the water.

FDA has long-standing guidance for the sprout industry and continues to urge growers to follow this guidance, which can reduce the risk of contamination with Salmonella and other bacteria (available on the FDA web site at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprougd1.html). FDA also urges retailers to use sprouts obtained from growers who follow the FDA guidance.

FDA Warning to Consumers Not to Eat Raw Alfalfa Sprouts

Although the FDA, CDC and state and local health officials have found at least one source of the sprouts Salmonella, FDA has not revised its warning to consumers not to eat raw alfalfa sprouts:

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, until further notice because of a risk of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination.  As soon as the source of the contamination is identified, FDA will work with the alfalfa sprout industry to help identify which alfalfa sprouts are not connected with this contamination. Other types of sprouts have not been implicated at this time.

Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing people sickened after eating alfalfa sprouts.  For more information about the legal implications of this alfalfa seed recall, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit the free consultation form. 

More information: Alfalfa Sprouts Lawsuit, Salmonella Lawyer, Food Poisoning Lawyer.

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An outbreak of  31 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul has prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a general advisory for consumers not to eat alfalfa sprouts.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen represents victims of the outbreak and is accepting additional cases from all affected states To reach a Salmonella lawyer at the firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), or complete a free case consultation form.

The FDA and CDC said in a press release that all 31 cases with matching genetic fingerprints have been confirmed in six states. The number of actual cases may be higher and is likely to grow, the agencies said. The illnesses started in mid-March and the outbreak appears to be an extension of a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak that began in February in Nebraska, where grower CW Sprouts Inc., issued a recall.

Pritzker Olsen is involved in practically all major outbreaks of foodborne illness and the firm's food poisoning attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in damages for victims. Currently, we are representing the families of three women who died with Salmonella infections they suffered after eating peanut butter and other products made by Peanut Corp. of America.

In the current Salmonella outbreak linked to sprouts, the FDA and CDC said initial results in the  investigation trace back to multiple growers in multiple states. The six states currently listed as venues for the outbreak are Michigan, Minnesota,  Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia. 

The outbreak may be linked to contaminated seeds and the bad seeds may account for a large proportion of seeds now in use, according to the press release. In 1999, FDA issued guidance for sprout growers on how to avoid Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7  from harboring in their plants.

Now the agency is working with the industry to return to stricter adherence to those guidelines, which include instructions on how to disinfect seeds with chemical spray. The full FDA and CDC press release can be found here. 

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Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing people sickened in a mutistate Salmonella outbreak linked to raw alfalfa sprouts.

This outbreak continues to widen, and the FDA and CDC are recommending that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, which have been linked to widespread Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination. Other types of sprouts have not been implicated at this time.

According to an FDA announcement:

The investigation indicates that the problem may be linked to contamination of seeds for alfalfa sprouts. Because suspect lots of seeds may be sold around the country and may account for a large proportion of the alfalfa seeds currently being used by sprout growers, and cases of illness are spread across multiple states, FDA and CDC are issuing this general advisory.

FDA will work with the alfalfa sprout industry to help identify which seeds and alfalfa sprouts are not connected with this contamination, so that this advisory can be changed as quickly as possible.

CDC, FDA and state and local authorities in six states have associated this outbreak with eating raw alfalfa sprouts. Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia have reported 31 cases of illness with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul to CDC. Most of those who became ill reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts.  Some reported eating raw sprouts at restaurants; others reported purchasing the raw sprouts at the retail level.

The illnesses began in mid-March. Cases are still being reported, and possible cases are in various stages of laboratory testing, so illnesses may appear in other states. No deaths have been reported. The number of infected people may be higher than currently reported because some illnesses have not yet been confirmed with laboratory testing.

The CDC and FDA recommend at all times that persons at high risk for complications, such as the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems, not eat raw sprouts because of the risk of contamination with Salmonella or other bacteria. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses, such as meningitis and bone infections.

Initial investigation results trace the contaminated raw alfalfa sprouts to multiple sprout growers in multiple states. This suggests a potential problem with the seeds used, as well as the possible failure of the sprout growers involved to appropriately and consistently follow the FDA Sprout Guidance issued in 1999 http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprougd1.html. The guidance recommends an effective seed disinfection treatment immediately before the start of sprouting (such as treating seed in 20,000 parts per million Calcium hypochlorite solution with agitation for 15 minutes) and regularly testing the water used for every batch of sprouts for Salmonella and E coli O157:H7 contamination.

This outbreak appears to be an extension of an earlier outbreak in 2009. In February and March, an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul infections occurred in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota. This outbreak was linked to raw alfalfa sprouts, and the outbreak strain was indistinguishable from that of these recently reported cases.  A separate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections was also linked to sprouts in 2009. In the 1990s, a number of outbreaks related to sprouts led FDA to issue its guidance. Experience over the past decade has shown that the likelihood of Salmonella in sprouts can be minimized when recommendations from FDA’s Sprout Guidance are followed.

Preventive controls are very important in the growing of alfalfa sprouts. FDA reminds sprout growers to be vigilant in their food safety practices and strongly encourages sprout growers to follow the Agency’s Sprout Guidance. Additionally, the United Fresh Produce Association has advised all of its members to follow FDA’s guidance on sprouts. FDA appreciates that the produce industry has reinforced this message and reminds retailers that it is prudent to sell sprouts from growers who follow FDA's recommendations.

There are a number of parties that may be liable for illnesses related to this Salmonella outbreak:

• The grower of the alfalfa sprouts
• The processor
• The distributor
• A restaurant, deli, cafeteria or other eating establishment

Many of the victims of this outbreak consumed the Salmonella-contaminated sprouts at restaurants.  Generally, restaurants are liable for any illnesses associated with their food, even if the the food was contaminated with Salmonella before it got to the restaurant.

Compensation for victims of Salmonella outbreaks may include the following:

• Medical Expenses (past and future)
• Lost income (past and future)
• Pain and suffering (past and future), including physical pain, suffering, emotional distress and disability

For more information and a free consultation, please contact our law firm: 1-888-377-8900 or submit our free consultation form.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to announce soon a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella associated with alfalfa sprouts and the announcement may be coupled with an advisory for consumers to avoid eating sprouts.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys already represents victims in this outbreak and is accepting additional cases from all the states involved. Salmomella attorneys at the firm can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 or you can readily receive a free online case consultation. 

According to pubished reports, there are currently 31 confirmed Salmonella Saintpaul cases in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia. The Michigan Department of Community Health already is telling consumers in that state to avoid alfalfa sprouts after at least two victims of the outbreak were hospitalized.

The cases reportedly have a rare fingerprint and the pattern matches a recent outbreak that started in Nebraska and included a sprouts recall by Nebraska-based CW Sprouts, aka SunSprout Enterprises Inc. Pritzker Olsen is representing victims in that outbreak.

The latest outbreak reportedly involves more than one grower of sprouts and a trade association for the fresh produce industry already is warning growers to fall back in line with specific growing guidelines created more than five years ago by the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Health Services.

Since 1995, alfalfa sprouts emerged as a recognized source of foodborne illness, including Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. This year, there have already been at least three Salmonella outbreaks linked to sprouts.

In the Midwest (Nebraska and Iowa especially), there was the outbreak associated with CW Sprouts; in the northeast there is a current outbreak started in early April associated with a recall of sprouts distributed by Amalgamated Produce Inc. and on April 23 another Salmonella-related recall was announced by Calco Inc. of Arcadia, California.

Pritzker Olsen is involved in virtually all major outbreaks of food poisoning and the firm is one of the few firms in the country that are intensely focused on foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of food poisoning.

Currently, clients of the firm include the families of three women who died in the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak caused by peanut butter and other products made from peanuts processed by Peanut Corp. of America of West Virginia. 

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Michigan health officials are seeing a growing number of Salmonella cases that investigators believe are associated with contaminated alfalfa sprouts used in sandwiches.

According to multiple media reports, the Michigan Department of Community Health is still looking for the origin of the sprouts. In the meantime, they are recommending that residents of the state avoid eating sprouts until more is known about where they are coming from.

Officials have said at least 16 cases have been confirmed in southeastern Michigan, with most illnesses occurring between March 23 and April 6.  At least two of the 16 received hospital care.

Already this year, alfalfa sprouts have spawned more than one outbreak of Salmonella. For years the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cautioned young children, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems not to eat  alfalfa sprouts for fear of contracting food poisoning.

Healthy adults don't usually require medical treatment during a Salmonella illness, but those in risk groups can potentially come down with serious illness and die from infections. For instance, national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys currently represent the families of three women who died in the nationwide peanut butter Salmonella outbreak that started last September and has sickened more than 700 people.

Previous outbreaks have been linked to manure in fields and poor hygiene in producing the food, which starts as a seed or bean. Infection with Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, fever and cramps, lasting from four to seven days.

To contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete one of our  free online case consultation forms.

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The multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul that led to a recall of alfalfa sprouts by Nebraska's CW Sprouts Inc. is another reminder to consumers that people in high-risk categories for systemic infections should not eat raw sprouts.

The caution against sprouts for the young, elderly and immuno-compromised has been repeated for more than a decade by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At one point, there was even talk of requiring warning labels on the product. But as the CDC noted in one of its studies of Salmonella contamination of sprouts,  people continue to be more likely to view sprouts as a healthy food than as a possible vehicle for Salmonella or E. coli 0157:H7.

For people who continue to eat sprouts, heath officials recommend cooking before eating to reduce risks of illness.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is involved in the latest sprouts outbreak, representing victims. Besides having a reputation for collecting large sums on behalf of people injured or killed by adulterated food, the firm is devoted to educating the public about food safety issues and advocating for badly needed food safety legislation and increased funding for the federal, state and local agencies charged with protecting our food and enforcing food safety laws. Salmonella lawyers at the firm can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by completing an online case consultation form.

The most recent Salmonella outbreak possibly related to sprouts was announced in early March by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Health investigators found a correlation between ill persons and the consumption of CW Sprouts. The company agreed to a voluntary recall on March 3 but has denied being the source of the outbreak, which has grown to more than 100 confirmed cases mainly centered in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota.

From 1995 through 2001, CDC recorded 15 Salmonella outbreaks caused by contaminated sprouts. In the same period, two E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks were linked to sprouts. In Japan in 1996, contaminated radish sprouts were blamed for the world's largest recorded outbreak of E. coli -- 6,000 cases.

According to CDC and FDA literature, sprouts can become contaminated with Salmonella or E coli organisms during seed production, germination, processing or consumer handling. Once the bacteria in introduced, the same environmental conditions that are suitable for sprouting are also ideal for increasing bacterial counts.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis (swelling of the lining the heart) and arthritis. Most cases in healthy people resolve without the need for medical attention, but hospitalizations are not uncommon.

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The multi-state Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts has grown to more than 120 confirmed cases and national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is continuing to hear from victims of the outbreak.

The firm, which is involved in virtually every major outbreak of foodborne illness, is representing victims in claims against  CW Sprouts Inc. of Nebraska.

It was early March when the Nebraska Department of Public Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first made the initial association between Salmonella Saintpaul infections and CW Sprouts' SunSprout products.

The company on March 3, 2009, recalled its alfalfa sprouts, onion sprouts and gourmet sprouts in an alfalfa sprouts recall announced in conjunction with the FDA. It was reported that the outbreak strain of Salmonella was found in patients in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and Colorado.

In mid-March, for instance, the South Dakota Department of Health announced 29 illnesses believed to be caused by the sprouts. The agency said 14 percent of the people had been to the hospital for treatment. Salmonella infection is potentially fatal for young children, the elderly and other people with weakened immune systems.

The sprouts were sold under the Sun Sprouts label in 4-ounce clear plastic clam shell containers.

National Salmonella law firm PritzkerOlsen is one of the few firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of food borne illness litigation. To contact a Salmonella lawyer at the firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or get a free on line case consultation. The firm has a national reputation for excellence and a proven track record for recovering compensation for victims of food poisoning across the country.

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The alfalfa sprouts Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak has widened to at least 100 cases as public health officials in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas continue to study the source of the outbreak.

In Nebraska alone there were 47 laboratory-confirmed illnesses and another 27 probable cases as of Friday. At least 30 of the confirmed cases were in Douglas and Lincoln counties, in eastern Nebraska.

South Dakota is reporting 24 cases, including at least three people who have been hospitalized. And in Iowa, KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids has reported that health officials in that state have seen 21 illnesses linked to the outbreak.

An epidemiological study by health investigators in Nebraska has pointed to alfalfa sprouts grown by SunSprout Enterprises Inc. of Omaha as the potential source of the outbreak, but the cause is still under investigation. Laboratory work is being conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also is involved in the outbreak investigation.

Some victims of the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak already have contacted PritzkerOlsen Attorneys for representation and we are accepting clients from all states involved in the outbreak. PritzkerOlsen is a national food safety law firm with considerable experience and a reputation for success in representing survivors of foodborne illnesses. We are accepting cases from all states affected by the outbreak. Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete our form for a free online case consultation.

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State and federal health investigators continue working to establish a definite link between sprouts sold by a Nebraska company and a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak in five states.

An epidemiological investigation by the state of Nebraska associated initial illnesses in Nebraska and Iowa with sprouts sold by Omaha-based SunSprout Enterprises Inc. Now there are about 50 cases in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and Missouri, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).

Some victims already are represented by Salmonella lawyers at PritzkerOlsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm with considerable experience and a reputation for success in representing survivors of foodborne illnesses. We are accepting cases from all states affected by the outbreak. Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete a free online case consultation.

SunSprout announced a recall March 3 covering Alfalfa Sprouts, Onion Sprouts and Gourmet Sprouts with "Best If Sold By" dates ranging from March 2-14. The products are sold primarily through distributors who sell to restaurants and retail stores.

At the time of the recall, the company said: "State officials continue to review all available data and information to determine whether sprouts are reliably implicated in the recent reported cases of Salmonella Saintpaul.''

CIDRAP quoted a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official who said the CDC is consulting on the outbreak and that laboratory analysis is being conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health. A Food and Drug Administration spokesman said the source of the outbreak remains under investigation.

Since at least 1999, the CDC has advised consumers that sprouts -- in general -- are not healthy for everyone. Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems should not eat sprouts, according to CDC's peer-reviewed journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The authors of the 1999 article said the warm, humid conditions needed to grow sprouts from seed are the same conditions that allow bacteria to flourish. Salmonella and E. coli bacteria can flourish in sprouts without affecting their appearance, the article said.

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