Minnesota and Wisconsin health agencies warn against specific alfalfa sprout brands after bacterial outbreak
Health officials in Minnesota and Wisconsin have linked illnesses in 41 people to alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands, identifying multiple strains of E. coli and Salmonella.
Health authorities in Minnesota have advised consumers to avoid certain alfalfa sprout products after 23 residents were diagnosed with infections caused by either Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) or Salmonella, two of whom required hospitalization. The cases involve three distinct STEC strains—O168:H8, O103:H25 and O26:H11—and three Salmonella infections, one of which was concurrent with the O168:H8 strain. Wisconsin investigators have reported an additional 18 illnesses linked to the same sprout products.
The sprouts in question were grown by Everything Sprouts, a Minnesota producer, and marketed under the Calco and Everything Sprouts labels for sale to restaurants and grocery stores. State investigators are coordinating with Wisconsin and federal partners to identify the contamination source and assess its extent.
"It’s very unusual to have two bugs," said food-safety attorney Bill Marler, noting that alfalfa sprouts can readily harbor bacteria because the seeds are difficult to clean and are often cultivated in warm water.
STEC infections can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms and may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that can result in kidney failure. Salmonella infection typically produces diarrhea, fever, vomiting and dehydration.