13 with Salmonella in 4 States after eating Sweetwater Sprouts

The Minnesota Department of Health said Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, that consumers should not eat alfalfa sprouts from Jack & The Green Sprouts of River Falls, Wis., after several E. coli cases were linked to the sprouts. The illness affected people ages 18 to 84; five were female. Four of the cases are Twin Cities metro residents, and the other three live in Greater Minnesota. For some people the diarrhea and vomiting can be so severe it causes dehydration, and hospitalization is required.

Of the seven cases, two people were hospitalized.

There wasn’t one site for the exposure from the sprouts as people got sick from their products at a grocery store, restaurants, salad bar and through commercial food service.

Saupe said the Minnesota Health Department does daily reviews of reportable diseases, such as E. coli and other foodborne pathogens.

Fresh alfalfa sprouts from Jack & The Green Sprouts have been linked to an E. coli outbreak and may still be available at retailers and foodservice operations in multiple states. The CDC is recommending that consumers not eat alfalfa sprouts from that source, and that restaurants and other retails not sell or serve them.

The alfalfa sprouts come in a plastic clamshell with a brightly colored round label on top that notes the sprout variety.

“It can’t be washed off, so even if people are being diligent and washing their sprouts prior to eating them, that won’t actually help at all to remove any of that bacterial contamination”, she said.

Sprouts are a well-known source of foodborne illness, and epidemiologist Amy Saupe said there aren’t many ways to minimize the risk.

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in multiple states and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate this multistate outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen infections. You can reduce your risk of illness by requesting that raw sprouts not be added to your food.

Symptoms of E. coli include: stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Most people recover in five to 10 days.

Approximately 150 cases of E. coli O157 are reported each year in Minnesota.