A nine-state Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 30 people has been linked to alfalfa sprouts produced by Sprouts Extraordinaire of Denver. Five people have been hospitalized.
Many of those sickened reported eating the sprouts at restaurants, however health officials have not released the names of those establishments. Sprouts Extraordinaire has issued a recall for the sprouts which were sold in 5-pound boxes labeled “Living Alfalfa Sprouts.”
The outbreak includes two strains of Salmonella. Twenty four people have been sickened by Salmonella Reading, one has been sickened by Salmonella Abony and five have been sickened by both.
The onset of illness dates range from May 21 to July 20. Case patients range in age from less than 1 year to 72 and have a median age of 30. Fifty-three percent of those sickened are female.By state, cases have been reported from the following states: Colorado (13), Kansas (8), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (2), New York (1), Oregon (1), Texas (1) and Wyoming (1).
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody. Anyone who ate sprouts at a restaurant and develops these symptoms should see a doctor and mention possible exposure to Salmonella.