Alfalfa sprouts are a popular addition to sandwiches, salads and other healthy meals. They look fresh, taste mild and are often eaten raw. But a growing food poisoning outbreak in the United States has revealed why these small greens can sometimes be dangerous.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 76 people across 16 states have been infected with E. coli, Salmonella or both. Six people have been hospitalized, although no deaths have been reported. The latest official figures, released on October 1, cover illnesses that began between May 31 and September 7, 2026.
Investigators have linked some of the infections to alfalfa sprouts produced by Everything Sprouts LLC, a company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its products were sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands. However, health officials believe the problem may extend beyond one company because contaminated seeds were also supplied to other growers.
Two dangerous bacteria linked to the same outbreak
What makes this outbreak particularly unusual is that it involves two different types of harmful bacteria. Most food poisoning outbreaks are linked to one pathogen, but investigators have identified both E. coli and Salmonella in this case.
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According to Food Safety News, 64 people have been infected with E. coli, nine with Salmonella and three with both bacteria. Health officials also found that 40 of the 50 patients interviewed had eaten sprouts before becoming ill, with 35 specifically reporting eating alfalfa sprouts.
Both infections can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, although their symptoms can develop at different speeds. E. coli symptoms usually appear three to four days after infection and can sometimes cause bloody diarrhea or serious kidney complications. Salmonella often causes diarrhea, fever and stomach pain, with symptoms typically appearing between six hours and six days after exposure.
Most patients recover within a week, but the infections can be more dangerous for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
The recall has spread from fresh sprouts to seeds
Everything Sprouts first recalled certain alfalfa sprouts on August 22, 2026. The recall included products sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands, along with Crunchy Protein Sprout Mix and Zesty Garlic Mix. Several days later, the company expanded the recall to include certain batches of Robust Radish Sprout Mix because of possible cross-contamination.
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The FDA's official outbreak investigation identified an alfalfa seed batch, known as SAL2-24JB, that may have been contaminated before the sprouts were even grown. Investigators found that more than one sprout producer had received seeds from the same affected supply chain.
The investigation then led to another recall. On September 23, Berlin Seeds, a company based in Ohio, recalled 950 pounds of alfalfa sprouting seeds over concerns that they could contain E. coli or Salmonella. The seeds had been sold through the company's website and retail store to customers across numerous US states.
The affected seed supply also reached distributors and growers outside the United States, including Canada, Mexico, Tahiti and Venezuela. That does not mean infections have been confirmed in those places, but it shows how widely potentially contaminated seeds can travel.
The warning is therefore relevant to people growing their own sprouts, not just those buying them in supermarkets. Home growers should also check their sprouting seed supplies and follow any recalls affecting the seeds they purchased.
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The company had received an FDA warning before
The outbreak has also brought renewed attention to earlier food safety concerns involving Everything Sprouts.
In March 2025, the FDA sent the company an official warning letter following an inspection carried out in late 2024. Inspectors documented several hygiene problems, including water leaking through the ceiling of a production area and dripping onto containers of exposed mung bean sprouts.
The inspectors also reported problems involving cleaning and sanitation of equipment that came into contact with sprouts. The company submitted responses describing corrective actions, but the FDA said at the time that it could not fully evaluate whether those measures were adequate.
Importantly, those earlier findings concerned different sprout products, and regulators have not established that the problems caused the current alfalfa outbreak. Nevertheless, the warning illustrates how carefully sprout production facilities must control contamination.
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Why washing sprouts may not make them safe
One of the biggest problems with sprouts is the way they are grown. They need warm temperatures and moisture to develop, but those are also ideal conditions for dangerous bacteria to multiply.
Unlike many vegetables, sprouts can carry bacteria inside as well as on their surfaces. If bacteria are already present in the seeds, they can multiply as the sprouts grow. This means even sprouts that look completely fresh and clean may contain harmful germs.
The FDA explains that bacteria can enter seeds through tiny cracks, making them extremely difficult to remove by washing. This is also why growing sprouts at home does not automatically make them safer.
Health authorities recommend that pregnant women, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems avoid raw sprouts. Cooking sprouts thoroughly significantly reduces the risk of food poisoning, while simply rinsing them is not enough to guarantee their safety.
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What to check before eating sprouts
The FDA says the recalled fresh sprouts have already passed their best-by dates and should no longer be available in stores or restaurants. However, consumers should still check any sprouts they have stored or frozen, along with seeds purchased for home sprouting.
The recalled Everything Sprouts and Calco alfalfa products carried lot numbers 222, 223, 225, 226 and 230, while certain sprout mixes were also affected. Anyone who purchased these products should check the official FDA recall notice for the relevant product and batch information.
Affected products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Containers, kitchen equipment and surfaces that may have touched the recalled sprouts or seeds should also be thoroughly cleaned.
Anyone who develops bloody diarrhea, a high fever, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration after eating potentially contaminated sprouts should contact a healthcare professional promptly.
For consumers, the wider lesson is simple: a food does not have to look or smell spoiled to make someone seriously ill. With raw sprouts, the danger may be impossible to spot before they reach your plate.
This article is made and published by Aksel Kryhlmand, who may have used AI in the preparation.