The company Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC, based in Idaho, announced a recall of their alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts due to the potential for contamination with salmonella.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that they have not found any evidence of contamination with these products and no one has gotten sick from eating them but there has been an outbreak of salmonella poisoning in Idaho, North Dakota, New Jersey and Washington. Twenty-one people were affected including three hospitalizations. The outbreak was caused by contaminated alfalfa and spicy sprouts.
Salmonella is a food poisoning bug that is normally uneventful in healthy people. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts between four and seven days and the majority of people recover without any medical treatment.
However, it can be more serious in babies, elderly people and those with compromised immune systems. Sometimes, especially in these individuals, the salmonella infection may go from the intestines into the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning which can be fatal.
The Evergreen Fresh sprouts have been recalled just as a precaution. They are:
• Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 4 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00103 7
• Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 16 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00108 2
• Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 5 lb. bag, no UPC
• Spicy Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 4 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00102 0
• Spicy Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 16 oz. or 5 lb. bag, no UPC
They have varying expiration dates up to July 14, 2011
Customers are instructed to destroy all the above mentioned products. Please call Nadine Scharf at 208-267-4258 if you want further details.
Sources: FDA Press Release, 1st July 2011 - http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm261706.htm
Multi-State Outbreak of Human Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Linked to Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts, CDC - http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/sprouts-enteritidis0611/062611/index.html
Reviewed July 4, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg R.N.
Edited by Alison Stanton