Federal health officials say 55 people in 15 states have been infected with E. coli, Salmonella or both after eating alfalfa sprouts.
The outbreak is linked to sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands.
Consumers should not eat the affected sprouts and should wash and sanitize refrigerators, containers and other surfaces they touched.
Federal health officials are investigating an unusual multistate outbreak involving several strains of E. coli and a strain of Salmonella, all linked to alfalfa sprouts.
As of Aug. 21, 55 illnesses had been reported across 15 states. Four people were hospitalized, but no deaths had been reported, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are telling consumers not to eat alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts LLC of Minneapolis. The sprouts were distributed under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brand names to grocery stores, restaurants and other food-service customers.
The FDA said it is still working to determine the full distribution of the products.
Of the reported patients, 46 were infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, seven were infected with Salmonella Agona and two were infected with both pathogens. The E. coli illnesses involve three serotypes: O26:H11, O103:H25 and O168:H8.
Illnesses began between May 31 and Aug. 8. Cases have been reported in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
Public health officials interviewed 34 patients about what they ate before becoming ill. Twenty-six of them, or 76%, reported eating alfalfa sprouts.
Traceback investigations at restaurants and grocery stores identified sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts as a source of the illnesses, the FDA said.
FDA recommends a recall
The FDA began inspecting the Everything Sprouts facility and collecting samples on Aug. 19. The agency said it has recommended that the company recall the affected products, which it has.
In the meantime, consumers should check refrigerators and freezers for Calco and Everything Sprouts-brand alfalfa sprouts. The products should be thrown away or returned to the store where they were purchased.
Consumers who froze sprouts without their original packaging and cannot determine the brand should discard them, the agency said.
Restaurants, retailers and food-service operators should stop selling or serving the affected products. Any containers, shelves or other surfaces that came in contact with the sprouts should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to prevent cross-contamination.
Symptoms to watch for
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, nausea, vomiting and fever. Symptoms can begin within a few days of eating contaminated food but may take as long as nine days to appear.
Some patients can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening form of kidney failure. The infection may also lead to high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease or neurological problems.
Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Symptoms generally begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure and usually last four to seven days.
Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems face a greater risk of serious Salmonella illness.
The CDC advises consumers to contact a healthcare provider promptly if they develop bloody diarrhea, diarrhea lasting more than two days, fever above 102 degrees, vomiting that prevents them from keeping liquids down or signs of dehydration.