Fresh produce by an Idaho company has been recalled because of salmonella risks.
The Idaho Panhandle company pulled hundreds of cases of sprouts from store shelves because they could be contaminated with dangerous bacteria, according to a recall notice shared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
It’s the second time in less than two months that the FDA has issued a sprouts recall.
In late August, a Minnesota company recalled alfalfa sprouts because they could be contaminated with E. coli and salmonella.
Here’s what shoppers know:
Which food product was recalled in Idaho? Why?
Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC of Moyie Springs, Idaho, recalled 215 cases of broccoli sprouts on Wednesday, Sept. 10, because they have “the potential to be contaminated with salmonella,” the FDA said.
The recalled broccoli sprouts were packaged in clear, plastic 4-ounce Zip Lock bags labeled with universal product code 8 38796 00105 1.
The sprouts have “use by” dates of Sept. 7, Sept. 9, Sept. 11, Sept. 14 and Sept. 16.
Evergreen Fresh Sprouts said it initiated the recall when broccoli sprouts tested positive for salmonella in a third-party lab.
The company, which has ceased production and distribution of broccoli sprouts since Sept. 4, said it’s “currently conducting a root cause investigation.”
“We were notified that our broccoli sprouts product has been related to a multistate outbreak” of salmonella that had sickened 22 people as of Wednesday, Sept. 9, Evergreen Fresh Sprouts said in the recall notice.
Where were recalled sprouts sold?
The recalled broccoli sprouts were delivered to three distributors in Washington state between Aug. 24 and Sept. 2, the FDA said, then “distributed and sold in retail stores” to consumers in Idaho, Montana and Washington state.
As of Sept. 3, “two people in Montana, 13 people in Washington, and one person in Idaho have been linked to this outbreak,” the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services said in a news release.
What are health risks of salmonella infection?
Salmonella can cause “serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the FDA said.
Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, according to the federal health agency.
These are symptoms of a salmonella infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Watery diarrheaThe appearance of mucus or some blood in fecal matterMild to severe stomach crampsHeadachesNausea and vomitingLoss of appetite
Symptoms can occur as rapidly as six hours after the infection begins or up to six days after. Salmonella infections typically run their course in four to seven days.
According to the CDC, children under age 6, adults 65 years old and older or people who have weakened immune systems are most at risk for developing severe symptoms.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:
Consistent diarrhea for two or more daysFever of 102 degrees or higherBloody diarrheaVomiting induced dehydrationSevere dehydrationWhat should I do if I bought recalled sprouts?
If you bought the recalled broccoli sprouts, throw them away “immediately,” the FDA said.
You can call Evergreen Fresh Sprouts with questions at 208-267-4258 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Which food, drink recalls have impacted Idaho?
According to previous McClatchy Media coverage, these recent recalls likely impacted consumers in Idaho:
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