More people have been sickened and hospitalized by produce feared to be contaminated with deadly bacteria.
The Food and Drug Administration reports that as of October 1, 76 people across 16 states have been infected with multiple strains of E. coli and salmonella bacteria.
This is up from 55 cases when the outbreak was first identified on August 21. There have also been six hospitalizations, up from four in late August.
It has also spread to a new state, Oregon, as the largely Minnesota- and Wisconsin-based outbreak moves further west.
The majority of people have been sickened by the dangerous E. coli strain O26:H11, and three people have fallen ill with both E. coli and salmonella, health authorities confirmed.
The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating alfalfa and radish sprouts from Everything Sprouts LLC, as well as Berlin Seeds-branded Alfalfa Sprouting Seeds, as the potential sources of the outbreak.
Everything Sprouts LLC issued a voluntary recall on August 21 of alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands, as well as its Robust Radish mix, Crunchy Protein Sprout mix and Zesty Garlic mix.
On September 23, Berlin Seeds recalled 950 pounds of alfalfa sprouting seed lot SAL2-24JB after being notified by their seed supplier that the products had the potential to be contaminated with salmonella or E. coli.
The CDC has urged customers who bought any of the recalled products to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. The agency also urged washing items or surfaces that may have come into contact with the products.
A total of 76 people have been sickened by E. coli and salmonella linked to a sprout recall
Illnesses were reported in Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
Minnesota reported the most illnesses at 28, while Wisconsin followed closely with 27.
The recalled products were distributed to all states except Nevada, Louisiana, Georgia, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Specific stores that sold the products were not named.
‘Sprouts grown from the recalled alfalfa seed lot have been recalled and should no longer be available for sale,’ the FDA said. ‘If you are unsure if your seed lot is part of the recall, contact your seed supplier.’
People sickened in the outbreak were between 12 and 94 years old, with an average age of 37. About three-quarters were female, and 97 percent were white.
Of the 50 individuals interviewed by health authorities, 40 reported eating sprouts, and 35 specifically ate alfalfa sprouts.
Illnesses were reported between May 31 and September 7. The CDC notes that recent illnesses may not yet be reported because it takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Many people also recover without medical care or testing for E. coli or salmonella.
The E. coli strains in the outbreak – O26:H11, O103:H25 and O168:H8 – produce Shiga toxins, which harm the gut lining and lead to severe stomach cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting.
The above map shows the number of E. coli and salmonella illnesses linked to the outbreak as of October 1
E. coli can also infect blood vessels in the kidneys, causing the potentially fatal kidney condition hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
For salmonella, the bacteria can spread into the bloodstream and cause the life-threatening complication sepsis, where the immune system overreacts to an infection.
Healthy adults should recover from infections within a week. But children under five years old, older adults and those who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of a severe infection or complications.
Food can become contaminated with bacteria if it is exposed to or irrigated with water contaminated with animal feces.
A contaminated food can then also spread bacteria to machinery, which then spreads it to other products.
E. coli typically sickens people between two and eight days after exposure.
Pictured above is a label for one of the recalled sprout products
Pictured above is a label for one of the recalled sprout products
Join the discussion
Does this latest E. coli and salmonella outbreak make you more cautious about buying packaged produce?
Most patients develop bloody diarrhea and vomiting, as well as stomach cramps, but recover within a week. In more severe cases, some develop HUS, a type of kidney failure.
Symptoms include easy bruising, decreased urine and a pale appearance. A kidney transplant may be necessary in severe or life-threatening instances.
Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and dehydration – symptoms that require medical attention, particularly for children under five, adults over 65 and those with weakened immune systems.
While most cases resolve with supportive care, primarily hydration and rest, doctors can also use antibiotics to help clear infections.
Salmonella is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in the US, triggering about 1.35 million infections, 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths every year.
E. coli triggers about 70,000 infections every year, 2,100 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
