Twenty cases of Salmonella enteritidis, including
one hospitalization, have been reported in five states and may be a result of
contaminated alfalfa sprouts.
The FDA is advising consumers not to eat Evergreen
Produce brand alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts. The sprouts are possibly
linked to 20 reported cases of S. enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New
Jersey, North Dakota and Washington. One person has been hospitalized.
According to an FDA press release, the strain of S.
enteritidis is rarely seen at this frequency but is not linked to the
Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak in Europe.
The FDA is investigating the problem in collaboration
with the CDC and public health agencies in states where illnesses have been
reported.
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.