Sprouts tied to salmonella in US

June 28, 2011|Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is issuing a rare warning to consumers, asking diners to avoid Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts because they may be linked to 20 cases of salmonella poisoning.

The Idaho-based company has not recalled the sprouts though the FDA says they are possibly linked to illnesses in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Washington state. Nadine Scharf, who identified herself as the co-owner of the company, said yesterday that the company has stopped producing the alfalfa and spicy sprouts but is not planning to recall them from store shelves.

Scharf said the FDA has asked her to recall the sprouts but that she doesn’t believe the agency has enough evidence to link the illnesses to her products. Most of the sprouts have probably been consumed anyway, she said.

While the FDA now has the power to force a recall thanks to a food safety law enacted earlier this year, the agency has not yet used that power.

The FDA generally works with companies to voluntarily issue a recall before it takes more drastic steps.

The agency’s warning to consumers yesterday is an unusual step that the agency will generally only take if a company refuses to recall a product and officials believe there is possible danger to those who consume it.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in people with weakened immune systems. It can cause diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.