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

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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.