Alfalfa sprouts linked to salmonella and E. coli outbreaks.
At least 55 people in 15 states have fallen ill with salmonella or E. coli — or both — linked to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts, a Minnesota grower. 4 people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.
- 26 of 34 interviewed patients reported eating alfalfa sprouts, per the FDA.
- 2 people were infected with both pathogens simultaneously.
- Minnesota logged 23 cases; Wisconsin logged 18, the earliest dating to July 8.
- The sprouts are sold under Calco and Everything Sprouts brands to restaurants and grocery stores.
Why it matters: Multi-pathogen outbreaks are rare, and the combination here complicates both diagnosis and containment. STEC strains can trigger acute kidney failure; salmonella can cause severe dehydration.
- Bill Marler, a Seattle food-safety attorney, called dual-pathogen outbreaks "very unusual" and noted that sprout seeds easily harbor contaminants and are difficult to clean.
- No recall has been issued as of Friday, the FDA said.
How 9 sources split on this story
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left focuses on the FDA's prior warning letter to Everything Sprouts — including a leaking roof dripping onto food — as evidence of regulatory red flags that went unaddressed.
Right coverage, 3 sources: The right frames the outbreak as the latest in a pattern of recurring foodborne illness crises this summer, citing the jalapeño salmonella outbreak and the Cyclospora lettuce outbreak as context.
What’s next: The CDC, FDA, and state health departments are jointly investigating the source and scope of contamination.
- Officials expect the case count to grow as the outbreak gets wider public attention.
- Will Everything Sprouts issue a voluntary recall, or will regulators compel one?
- How many additional cases are tied to the outbreak but not yet confirmed?