The number of people sickened and hospitalized in an outbreak linked to potentially contaminated sprouts has continued to rise.
The Food and Drug Administration said that, as of October 1, 76 people in 16 states had been infected with multiple strains of E. coli and salmonella.
That is an increase from the 55 cases recorded when the outbreak was first identified on August 21. Hospitalizations have also climbed, reaching six compared with four in late August.
Oregon is now among the affected states, expanding an outbreak that has been concentrated largely in Minnesota and Wisconsin farther west.
Most illnesses have been linked to the dangerous E. coli strain O26:H11. Health officials also confirmed that three people were infected with both E. coli and salmonella.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating alfalfa and radish sprouts made by Everything Sprouts LLC, along with Berlin Seeds-branded alfalfa sprouting seeds, as possible sources of the outbreak.
Everything Sprouts LLC announced a voluntary recall on August 21 covering alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands. The recall also included its Robust Radish mix, Crunchy Protein Sprout mix and Zesty Garlic mix.
Berlin Seeds recalled 950 pounds of alfalfa sprouting seeds from lot SAL2-24JB on September 23, after its seed supplier warned that the products could be contaminated with salmonella or E. coli.
The CDC is urging anyone who purchased the recalled products to throw them away or return them to the store. Consumers should also wash any items or surfaces that may have touched the sprouts or seeds.
A total of 76 people have been sickened by E. coli and salmonella linked to a sprout recall
Cases have been 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 has recorded the highest number of illnesses, with 28 cases, followed by Wisconsin with 27.
The recalled products were distributed nationwide except in Nevada, Louisiana, Georgia, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Officials have not identified the specific stores that sold them.
‘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.’
Those who became ill ranged in age from 12 to 94, with an average age of 37. Approximately three-quarters were female, while 97 percent were white.
Among the 50 people interviewed by health officials, 40 said they had eaten sprouts, including 35 who specifically reported eating alfalfa sprouts.
The illnesses occurred between May 31 and September 7. The CDC cautions that more recent cases may not have been counted yet because confirming whether an illness is part of an outbreak can take three to four weeks.
Many people recover without seeking medical attention or undergoing testing for E. coli or salmonella, meaning the true number of infections could be higher.
The E. coli strains identified in the outbreak—O26:H11, O103:H25 and O168:H8—produce Shiga toxins. These toxins can damage the lining of the intestines and cause 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
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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.
