Overview
- Federal health agencies say 55 people in 15 states have confirmed infections tied to alfalfa sprouts as of Friday, with four hospitalizations and no reported deaths.
- The FDA began an on-site inspection of Everything Sprouts on Aug. 19 and recommended a recall; the grower later issued a voluntary recall of certain lots while saying its own daily tests were negative.
- Investigators found multiple pathogens in the outbreak: 46 people with Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, seven with Salmonella, and two co-infected with both bacteria.
- Illness onset dates range from May 31 to Aug. 8, and of 34 sick people interviewed, 26 reported eating alfalfa sprouts that were distributed to restaurants and grocery stores under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands.
- Everything Sprouts previously received an FDA warning letter after a 2024 inspection that cited sanitation problems, and health officials warn sprouts are high risk because warm, wet growing conditions let bacteria multiply and resist washing.