Federal health officials announced on Friday that an outbreak of E. coli and salmonella has been linked to alfalfa sprouts from a Minneapolis-based grower. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that the affected products were distributed by Everything Sprouts and sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands to various restaurants and grocery stores.
Everything Sprouts initiated a voluntary recall on Friday for specific lots of alfalfa sprouts that may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and salmonella. The company stated that the recalled products were supplied to distributors and retailers in Minnesota and Wisconsin starting on May 27. Some of the recalled items are packaged in 5-ounce plastic containers with lids.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 55 cases of illness across 15 states, resulting in four hospitalizations. The FDA reported that 46 individuals were infected with E. coli, seven with salmonella, and two with both pathogens. Illnesses were reported between May 31 and Aug. 8. While health officials identified the link to the sprouts, Everything Sprouts stated it has conducted daily tests without receiving a positive lab result or direct reports of illness from consumers.
The outbreak highlights ongoing challenges in food safety for raw produce, particularly sprouts. A person who consumed these products between late May and early August would have noticed symptoms appearing within days of ingestion. The discovery of these infections follows another ongoing foodborne illness event: a salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers from Mexico that has sickened more than 400 people in 32 states since June. This adds to the volume of active food safety investigations managed by the CDC and FDA.
State-level health departments in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where the impact is most concentrated, are continuing to track local cases. The Minnesota Department of Health reported 23 cases and two hospitalizations between July 8 and Aug. 8, while the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 17 cases and one hospitalization. What happens next depends on further testing results and the effectiveness of the voluntary recall. Consumers are typically advised to check their refrigerators for the Calco or Everything Sprouts brands and dispose of any sprouts matching the recall description. The specific end date for the recall and the status of future shipments were not reported.