Alfalfa, Spicy sprouts recalled due to salmonella

by Aimee Keenan-Greene  

Throw 'em out!
 
The Food and Drug Administration says don't eat Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts, which contain alfalfasprouts mixed with radish and clover sprouts, from Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Illinois. 

Tiny Greens Organic Farm’s Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts have been preliminarily linked to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections.  About half the illnesses occurred in Illinois, where nearly all of the ill individuals ate sandwiches containing sprouts at various Jimmy John’s outlets. 

The recalled sprouts were distributed in 4 oz. and 5 lb. containers to various customers, including farmers’ markets, restaurants and groceries, in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and possibly other Midwestern states.

Jimmy John’s has stopped serving sprouts on its sandwiches at all Illinois locations. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four  to seven days. Most people recover without treatment but sometimes people need hospitalization due to dehydration from severe diarrhea. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites. It can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. 

It is especially dangerous for the elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems.

FDA is investigating along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Illinois Department of Public Health and other states,  and is working with Tiny Greens. Jimmy John’s restaurants have voluntarily suspended serving sprouts at their Illinois franchise locations. 

Sprouts are a known source of foodborne illness. Since 1996, there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E. coli. The FDA advises that children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish and mung bean sprouts). To reduce the chance of foodborne illness, FDA advises consumers to cook sprouts thoroughly and to request raw sprouts not be added to your food.