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The CDC and FDA say an outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans linked to broccoli sprouts and microgreens has ended. Thirty-four people in six states were reported sick and three were hospitalized; officials traced contaminated seeds to an import from New Zealand but have not identified the seed company. Listed sprout products have passed their expiration dates, while several broccoli seed products were recalled.
The CDC and FDA declared a Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts and microgreens over, after 34 people in six states were reported sick and three were hospitalized. The agencies said contaminated broccoli seeds traced to an import from New Zealand were involved, but did not identify the seed company.
The reported illnesses were in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Patients ranged in age from 2 to 87, and illness onset dates ran from July 7 through Sept. 11. Of 30 people interviewed by investigators, 29 said they had eaten sprouts or microgreens before becoming ill.
Samples of Evergreen Fresh Sprouts-brand broccoli sprouts collected by Washington and Montana health officials tested positive for Salmonella and matched the outbreak strain, according to the report. The FDA also found the matching strain in broccoli seed samples collected from a domestic supplier. Investigators traced the seeds to New Zealand, but the supplier’s name was not disclosed.
The affected Evergreen Fresh Sprouts products are past their expiration dates and have been recalled, the FDA said. The domestic seed supplier recalled the implicated seeds, and several companies initiated downstream recalls. The recalled seeds were sold nationwide through company websites and online marketplaces, including Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy and TikTok Shop.
Products identified in the report include Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 broccoli sprouting seeds in one-pound white and green pouches marked “Packed for 2027”; Eden Brothers calabrese broccoli seeds in packets and one-ounce and one-pound sizes, lots 1022067 and 1022068, supplier lot W4105; and Home Grown green sprouting calabrese broccoli seeds, an eight-ounce product sold on Amazon with lot code AUG172026. Consumers should check product names and lot details against the recall information before using seeds.
Recalled Seeds May Remain at Home
The outbreak declaration means public health agencies are no longer reporting it as ongoing, but it does not mean every potentially affected product has necessarily been removed from homes. While the recalled sprouts are past expiration, sprouting seeds may be stored and used later. The listed seed products were sold nationwide, including through online retailers, making recall details relevant beyond the six states where illnesses were reported.
The reported count also may not capture every infection. The CDC estimates that for every confirmed Salmonella case in an outbreak, 29 cases may go undetected, because people may not seek care or may not receive testing specific to Salmonella. That estimate signals possible undercounting; it is not a confirmed total for this outbreak.
The supplier’s identity remains undisclosed in the available report. That limits what consumers can learn about the source beyond the product and lot information officials and companies have made public. The confirmed seed tracing and matching test results nonetheless connect the reported outbreak to contaminated broccoli seeds and sprouts.
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How Investigators Linked Seeds and Sprouts
The investigation focused on Salmonella Bovismorbificans, a specific Salmonella strain. Investigators compared results from people who became ill with laboratory findings from food samples. The report says Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprout samples and broccoli seed samples from a domestic supplier both tested positive for Salmonella matching the outbreak strain.
Interview information supported the connection: 29 of 30 interviewed patients reported eating sprouts or microgreens before illness. The agencies traced the broccoli seeds to New Zealand and said recalls followed at the domestic supplier and among downstream companies. The report does not provide the name of the importer or seed supplier.
Officials said this outbreak does not appear to be connected to other recent multistate Salmonella and E. coli outbreaks traced to alfalfa sprouts produced by Everything Sprouts, LLC. The distinction matters because the outbreaks involved different products and should not be treated as one event.
“For every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak there are 29 who go undetected.”
— CDC
Supplier Identity Still Withheld
The CDC and FDA have not named the seed company or supplier in the source report. It is also not clear from the report why the name was withheld, whether further identifying information will be released, or how many recalled seed packages remain in circulation.
The 34 illnesses are the official reported count, not necessarily the full number of infections. The CDC’s general undercount estimate cannot be used to calculate an exact number of additional patients in this specific outbreak. The report also does not say whether investigators identified the point at which the seeds became contaminated.
Check Seed Lots and Recall Notices
Consumers who have broccoli sprouting seeds should compare the package name, size and lot code with the products listed in recall notices and follow the instructions provided by the seller or relevant agency. The report says the affected sprouts have expired and been recalled, but it does not establish that every recalled seed package has been recovered.
Public health agencies and companies may provide further recall or investigation information. The report gives no date for an additional update and does not say whether officials plan to disclose the supplier’s name. For now, the outbreak is declared over, while recall details remain the main practical information for consumers.
Key Questions
How many people were sickened in the sprout outbreak?
Officials reported 34 illnesses across six states, with three people hospitalized. The CDC says Salmonella outbreak counts can miss infections, so the reported number may not include everyone who became ill.
Which states reported illnesses?
The reported cases were in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Patients ranged from 2 to 87 years old.
Which products were recalled?
The report lists several broccoli seed products: Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 sprouting seeds, specified Eden Brothers calabrese seed lots, and Home Grown green sprouting calabrese seeds with lot code AUG172026. Affected Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts were also recalled and are past expiration. Check current recall notices for full identifying details and instructions.
Did officials name the seed supplier?
No. The report says investigators traced the seeds to an import from New Zealand and that a domestic supplier’s samples matched the outbreak strain, but the agencies did not identify the seed company.
Is this the same outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts?
According to the report, this broccoli sprout outbreak does not appear to be related to other recent multistate Salmonella and E. coli outbreaks traced to alfalfa sprouts produced by Everything Sprouts, LLC.
Source: foodsafetynews.com
