Federal health officials are warning shoppers to throw out two brands of alfalfa sprouts tied to an unusual outbreak that has infected people with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella Agona, or in two rare cases, both at once.
The FDA and CDC have linked 55 illnesses across 15 states to alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts, LLC of Minneapolis and sold in 5-ounce plastic containers under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands. Four people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported as of August 21, 2026.
Of 34 people interviewed by investigators, 26, or 76 percent, said they had eaten alfalfa sprouts before falling ill, according to the outbreak update relayed by Fox 29 Philadelphia.
Two bugs, one salad topping
Most foodborne outbreaks involve a single pathogen. This one involves four. Investigators have identified three strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, O26:H11, O103:H25 and O168:H8, alongside Salmonella Agona. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, is the group best known for triggering bloody diarrhea and, in severe cases, kidney injury.
Also read: A vitamin D-like drug may have found a way past pancreatic cancer's main defenses
Of the 55 confirmed cases, 46 people were infected with E. coli, 7 with salmonella and 2 with both pathogens simultaneously, an unusual co-infection that suggests the sprouts themselves carried more than one organism.
Minnesota has been hit hardest with 23 cases and two hospitalizations, followed by Wisconsin with 17 cases and one hospitalization. The remaining cases are spread across Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Washington. Illness onsets range from May 31 to August 8, 2026, and the affected sprouts were distributed starting May 27.
What the FDA wants you to do
If you have Calco or Everything Sprouts alfalfa sprouts at home, do not eat them. The Minnesota Department of Health told consumers to check their refrigerators for the brands and throw the sprouts away, per ABC News.
Sprouts are difficult to sanitize because the warm, humid conditions used to germinate the seeds are also ideal for bacteria. Federal guidance is to wash any surfaces, drawers or utensils that touched the product in hot, soapy water or run them through the dishwasher. Restaurants and retailers have been told to stop serving the sprouts and sanitize all contact surfaces.
Also read: What your mouth and gums can quietly reveal about your heart and blood sugar
When to call a doctor
E. coli infections typically cause severe stomach cramps, often bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Salmonella tends to bring diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually appear within a few days of eating a contaminated food.
Health officials advise contacting a doctor if you have bloody diarrhea, a fever above 102 degrees Fahrenheit with diarrhea, diarrhea lasting more than two days without improvement, or vomiting that keeps you from holding down fluids. Children under 5, adults 65 and older, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system are at highest risk of serious illness and should be evaluated sooner rather than later.
Everything Sprouts, LLC issued a voluntary recall on August 22, 2026, covering five-ounce Calco and Everything Sprouts alfalfa sprout containers in lots 222, 223, 225, 226 and 230, along with two related sprout mix cups. Federal officials are continuing to warn consumers directly.
Also read: 5 warning signs of melanoma on your skin - and when to see a doctor
Also read: How much turmeric is too much? What high-dose curcumin can do to your liver
This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.