Cases of illness spur recall of alfalfa sprouts

WASHINGTON – Salmonella found in raw alfalfa sprouts appears to have sickened 22 people in 10 states, including a baby in Oregon, prompting a nationwide recall of the product.

Caldwell Fresh Foods of Maywood, Calif., announced the recall Friday. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, which also announced the recall Friday, Caldwell’s alfalfa product was sold in 18 states in the West, Midwest and South.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 people were sickened in California, two were sickened in Nevada and two were sickened in Wisconsin. Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Colorado each had one person sickened, the CDC said. The illnesses began between March 1 and May 2 and six people were hospitalized.

The company did say the alfalfa sprouts were sold at restaurants, delicatessens and retailers nationwide, including many in California. Those California stores include Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Kings Super Markets, Numero Uno, Cardenas Markets, Gonzales Northgate Markets, Jons Markets and Canton Foods.

The company said the recalled alfalfa sprouts were sold in plastic cups and plastic bags under the Caldwell Fresh Foods brand, plastic cups under the Nature’s Choice brand and plastic containers under the California Fresh Exotics brand.

Oregon health officials said this is the 12th outbreak in sprouts that has sickened people in the state since 1995.