This time it is the innocent and seemingly innocuous alfalfa sprout. Recent outbreaks of diarrheal disease associated with raw alfalfa sprouts have occurred in California and elsewhere. Since 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received eight reports of sprout-associated outbreaks of illness. California was involved in four of these outbreaks either as the only state with illnesses or as part of a multi-state outbreak. The pathogens responsible for these outbreaks in California were Salmonella and E. coli O157.
Young children are of particular concern.
If they become infected with E. coli O157, they are at increased risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to chronic kidney failure, stroke, and even death. Generally, they are eaten raw and conditions required for growing sprouts are ideal for bacterial growth. There are currently no means to produce sprouts that can be guaranteed free of pathogens. Since this is also true for other sprouts such as bean sprouts, caution should be take with the use of them also. The sprout industry has been working with state and federal agencies for the past several years to try reduce the risks associated with their product.