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What is salmonella infection?
People with salmonella infection often suffer diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps after getting in contact with infected animals, their feces, or their environment or eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water.
Federal health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli and salmonella infections linked to alfalfa sprouts that has sickened at least 55 people across 15 states.
Four people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported, according to an Aug. 21 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
E. coli, salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts
Big picture view:
The CDC said the outbreak has been linked to alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brand names at retailers and grocery stores.
The outbreak involves multiple strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and salmonella. Two people have been infected with both, according to the CDC.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 31, 2026, to August 8, 2026. State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick, the FDA noted.
Colonies of Escherichia coli (E. Coli) bacteria grown on a plate. (Credit: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)/Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Of 34 patients interviewed, 26 – or 76% – reported eating alfalfa sprouts before becoming sick.
States with cases include Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
The FDA said it is working with Everything Sprouts and has recommended that the company conduct a recall.
Officials urge consumers not to eat affected alfalfa sprouts
What's next:
Health officials are urging consumers not to eat affected alfalfa sprouts. Anyone who has the products at home should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
Consumers should also wash items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the sprouts using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.
Businesses should not sell or serve affected sprouts and should wash and sanitize any surfaces or items that may have come into contact with them, the CDC added.
Symptoms of E. coli, salmonella infections
Dig deeper:
Symptoms of E. coli infection typically include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting.
Some patients can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a serious complication that can cause acute kidney failure.
People infected with salmonella typically experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems are among those at greater risk of developing severe illness.
The CDC recommends contacting a healthcare provider right away for symptoms including bloody diarrhea, diarrhea accompanied by a fever above 102 degrees, diarrhea lasting more than two days without improvement, vomiting that prevents a person from keeping liquids down or signs of dehydration.
Wisconsin, Minnesota officials warn consumers about outbreak
The backstory:
On Thursday, Wisconsin's Department of Health Services confirmed 17 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and salmonella connected to eating alfalfa sprouts. One person was hospitalized.
RELATED: Minnesota, Wisconsin link E. coli and salmonella cases to alfalfa sprouts
Meanwhile, Minnesota health officials said 23 people became ill between July 8 and Aug. 8 with salmonella and/or various strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, with two people hospitalized.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the number of illnesses will likely increase as the investigation continues.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by the FDA and CDC’s Aug. 21 update. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous FOX Local reporting also contributed.