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The CDC has declared an end to a multistate outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts and a recalled seed lot. At least 77 people in 16 states became ill; six were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. The FDA closed its investigation but has not publicly named the seed supplier.
The Centers for Disease and Prevention has declared an end to a multistate outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts and the seeds used to grow them, according to Food Safety News. At least 77 people in 16 states were reported ill, six were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. The FDA says the implicated seed lot was SAL2-24JB, but has not publicly named its supplier.
The outbreak involved four reported E. coli strains—O26:H11, O103:H25 and O168:H8—and Salmonella Agona. The illnesses were traced to sprouts from Everything Sprouts of Minneapolis and seeds associated with Berlin Seeds of Millersburg, Ohio, according to the report, which noted that the FDA still won’t name the supplier. Both companies recalled products. The report does not specify the dates or scope of those recalls.
Of the 77 reported patients, 64 were infected with E. coli, 10 with Salmonella and three with both. Illness-onset dates ranged from May 31 to Oct. 19. Among 52 patients interviewed, 41 said they had eaten sprouts before becoming ill, the report said.
The FDA identified the implicated alfalfa seed by lot number SAL2-24JB, with an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2029. The agency said sprout growers should check inventories for the recalled lot and discard any remaining seed. The FDA had closed its investigation as of Nov. 9, while the CDC’s outbreak status was reported as ended.
Why the Seed Lot Still Matters
The outbreak’s end means public health agencies are no longer reporting it as ongoing, but it does not make the implicated seed safe to use. The FDA’s instruction to discard any remaining seed is directed at growers who may still have the identified lot in storage. Checking the lot number is more useful than relying on a product name alone, particularly because the supplier has not been publicly identified in the FDA information described by Food Safety News.
The case also shows the limits of reported illness counts. The 77 cases are confirmed reported patients, not a count of everyone who may have become ill. Some people do not seek medical care, and others may not receive the testing needed to identify the pathogen. The source cites CDC estimates that for every identified Salmonella outbreak patient, 29 may go undetected, and for every identified E. coli patient, 26 may go undetected. Those multipliers are estimates, not additional cases measured in this outbreak, and should not be used to calculate a definitive total here.
Both pathogens can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramps, and Salmonella illness may also involve fever. E. coli infections can sometimes lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening kidney complication. People who ate the implicated sprouts or handled the seed and become ill should contact a health care professional and mention the possible exposure, the source report advises.
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How the Sprout Investigation Unfolded
The investigation linked illnesses to alfalfa sprouts and seed used to grow them, with two pathogens involved rather than one. Food Safety News reported that the sprouts were traced to Everything Sprouts and that the seed was associated with Berlin Seeds. Both businesses recalled products, while the FDA’s public notice identified the seed by its lot code and expiration date rather than naming the supplier.
The case count and onset window cover illnesses reported from May 31 through Oct. 19. Investigators interviewed 52 patients; 41 reported eating sprouts before becoming ill. That information supports the reported link, but the source material does not provide the full investigation record, laboratory evidence, or a detailed explanation of how agencies traced the illnesses to the seed lot.
Food Safety News reported that the FDA’s investigation was closed on Nov. 9 and that the CDC declared the outbreak over. The report does not give a separate date for the CDC’s declaration. Its account therefore establishes the current status and the FDA’s closure date, but not a full chronology of every agency action.
“Sprout growers should check their inventory for this recalled seed lot and discard any remaining seed.”
— U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Supplier Identity and Case Totals
The seed supplier’s name remains undisclosed in the FDA information described by the report. The source says the agency knows the supplier’s identity but does not explain why it has not published it. It is also not clear from the supplied material whether the agency may release the name later or whether any additional public findings will follow the investigation’s closure.
The outbreak count of 77 reported illnesses may not capture every infection, according to the report, because some people are not tested or do not seek care. The cited CDC multipliers describe how many cases may go undetected in outbreaks generally; they do not establish an exact hidden case count for this event. The source also does not state whether any illnesses were reported after the investigation closed.
Growers Should Check Seed Stocks
The immediate action described by the FDA is for sprout growers to check inventory for lot SAL2-24JB and discard any remaining seed. The CDC has declared the outbreak over, and the FDA investigation was closed as of Nov. 9, so the supplied report does not announce another scheduled investigation update or enforcement step.
Consumers who ate the implicated sprouts or handled the seed and develop symptoms should seek medical advice and tell their clinician about the possible exposure. The report says testing may be needed to diagnose these infections. People with severe symptoms—including signs associated with kidney complications after an E. coli infection—should seek urgent care. Any future clarification about the supplier or additional case information would depend on further public statements from the agencies.
Key Questions
What foods and products were linked to the outbreak?
The outbreak was linked to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts and the seed used to grow them. The FDA identified the implicated seed as lot SAL2-24JB, with an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2029. Both companies recalled products, according to Food Safety News.
How many people became ill?
At least 77 people in 16 states were reported ill: 64 with E. coli, 10 with Salmonella and three with both. Six people were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. The count may not include all infections, but the source does not establish a precise additional total.
Has the seed supplier been named?
No, not in the FDA information described in the report. The FDA identified the seed lot but did not publicly name the supplier. Food Safety News says the agency knows the supplier’s identity; the supplied material does not include the FDA’s reason for withholding it.
What should growers do with the implicated seed?
The FDA advised sprout growers to check their inventory for lot SAL2-24JB and discard any remaining seed. The seed’s listed expiration date is Dec. 31, 2029, but the agency’s discard instruction applies to the recalled lot.
What should someone do if they become sick after exposure?
Anyone who ate the implicated sprouts or handled the seed and develops symptoms should contact a health care professional and mention the possible exposure. The source says specific tests may be needed to diagnose E. coli or Salmonella. Severe symptoms or signs of possible kidney complications warrant urgent medical attention.
Source: foodsafetynews.com
