KDHE staff determined the sprouts were contaminated after testing of samples obtained from First Harvest confirmed the presence of salmonella bacteria. Analyses of the spouts were conducted by KDHE's Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratory and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory. KDHE staff visited the firm as part of its investigation of an outbreak of two rare strains of salmonella bacteria. KDHE, CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Missouri Department of Health are continuing additional investigation and laboratory testing to make a final determination of whether the contaminated sprouts are the cause of the outbreak. Salmonellosis symptoms include headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes vomiting.
Fever is often present.
The embargo prevents the firm from selling its sprouts. Public health agencies have asked First Harvest to notify customers to discontinue selling or using the sprouts. Food establishments and customers who have unused portions of First Harvest sprouts should not consume them. The product should be destroyed immediately.